Sat, Apr 24, 2027

Strides for Hope

Eau Claire, WI

Opens Aug 1, 2026Annual since at least 2025

5K2 Miles

Entry is $30 now and rises to $40 after Apr 4, 2027, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Strides for Hope

The course starts and finishes at a park pavilion in Carson Park, a natural setting in Eau Claire. The race benefits Hope Gospel Mission, which provides shelter, meals, and support services to people experiencing homelessness, so the purpose of the morning is pretty front and center for everyone out there.

Packet pickup is available on several days before the race at Hope Gospel Mission, or you can grab yours on race morning at Carson Park. The start area is right beside the pavilion, and strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the course.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2026 results

140finishers

17:50winner

38:43median

1:09:42cutoff

Top 3: Luke Ray (17:50) · Brody Salzman (18:19) · Corban Roldan (18:56)

The Strides for Hope has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 5K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K4/24/2027 10:00$30

2 Miles4/24/2027 10:00$30

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.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Strides for Hope

Will I finish last at the Strides for Hope?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 38:43, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:42, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Strides for Hope a good first 5K?

It is a small race (140 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Strides for Hope?

The 5K winner ran 17:50 while the median finisher took 38:43. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.