Sat, Apr 3, 2027

Sunset Scramble

Cary, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021
15K10K5K

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Aug 14, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

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About the Sunset Scramble

The Sunset Scramble runs through Bond Park on a mix of dirt, grass, paved sections, and natural trails. There are real hills here, moderate to significant ones, and the surface shifts underfoot depending on what the weather has been like. Runners pick a distance and run laps of the same course, so you pass the same landmarks each time as dusk comes on.

The race runs in the evening, with a staggered start window so longer distances go out first. The course closes at a fixed point, and anyone who cannot finish their chosen distance is moved down to whatever they did complete.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2026 results

147finishers
20:09winner
38:05median
1:12:04cutoff

Top 3: Tyler Fink (20:09) · Christopher Weber (20:56) · Carter Castaldo (21:01)

10K · 2026 results

66finishers
46:18winner
1:11:36median
1:48:55cutoff

Top 3: Chris Shaw (46:18) · Stephanie Sullivan (49:10) · Theodore Sullivan (51:02)

15K · 2026 results

20finishers
1:15:45winner
1:30:29median
1:58:03cutoff

Top 3: Alessandro Chiodo (1:15:45) · James Cornwell (1:17:01) · Naomi Chambers (1:18:43)

The Sunset Scramble has been held every year since at least 2021. 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

15K4/3/2027 17:30$50
10K4/3/2027 17:30$40
5K4/3/2027 17:30$30
Kids in Strollers4/3/2027 17:30$5
15K4/3/2027 17:30$35
10K4/3/2027 17:30$35
5K4/3/2027 17:30$35
Exhibitor4/3/2027 17:30$100

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.

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Common Questions About the Sunset Scramble

Will I finish last at the Sunset Scramble?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 38:05, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:12:04, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Sunset Scramble a good first 5K?

It is a small race (147 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 Sunset Scramble?

The 5K winner ran 20:09 while the median finisher took 38:05. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

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