About the STRAIN FOR THE BRAIN
Strain for the Brain runs at Veterans Park along Milwaukee's lakefront. The race was started by a brain tumor survivor and remains rooted in that personal history. It draws runners who have a connection to the cause, whether as patients, caregivers, or supporters, and the atmosphere reflects that. The lakefront setting keeps the course open and scenic.
Fee waivers are available for anyone facing financial barriers; the organizers ask that you reach out directly to discuss it. That kind of flexibility says something about how the event is run.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
Get races near Milwaukee in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
STRAIN FOR THE BRAIN 2026 Results
Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.
5K Results · 2026
801finishers
17:20winner
38:10median
1:16:59cutoff
Top 3: Alexander Seefeld (17:20) · John Valentyn (18:20) · AJ Memmel (19:04)
1 Miles Results · 2026
120finishers
8:54winner
25:01median
59:51cutoff
Top 3: Greg Klassen (17:38) · Nicole Mrozinski (17:30) · Irma Yepez Klassen (17:41)
The STRAIN FOR THE BRAIN has been held every year since at least 2020. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Oct 25, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
1 Mile6/13/2027 09:00$35
3.1 Miles6/13/2027 09:00$35
3.1 Miles6/13/2027 09:00$35
1 Mile6/13/2027 09:00Free
3.1 Miles6/13/2027 09:00Free
3.1 Miles6/13/2027 09:00Free
Virtual - Any Distance6/13/2027 09:00$40
Kiddos 1K6/13/2027 09:00$20
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Milwaukee — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
