Sat, Oct 24, 2026

Surf to Sound 5K

Surf City, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

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

About the Surf to Sound 5K

The course starts at Soundside Park, crosses the Surf City Bridge, and runs out to a point on the far side before looping back across the bridge to finish where it started. You cross that bridge twice, so you get the water views in both directions, with Topsail Sound on one side and the Atlantic opening up on the other. The route is road the whole way.

Packet pickup happens the two evenings before the race at Salty Turtle Beer Co., a local brewery that also hosts the post-race party. Morning pickup is available at the park if you miss it. Parking is in the park and along Roland Avenue, though the street parking shifts to paid after the race is underway, so arriving early helps.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

489finishers

17:41winner

36:07median

1:12:47cutoff

Top 3: Ryan Hastings (17:41) · Luke Kinney (18:10) · Brayden Jolly (18:16)

The Surf to Sound 5K 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 3.1 Miles 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

3.1 Miles10/24/2026 08:00$30

3.1 Miles10/24/2026 00:00$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 Surf to Sound 5K

Will I finish last at the Surf to Sound 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 36:07, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:12:47, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Surf to Sound 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 489 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Surf to Sound 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:41 while the median finisher took 36:07. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.