Sat, Nov 21, 2026

The Bat 5 Mile Road Race

Flag Pond, TN

Registration closedAnnual since at least 2020

5 Miles

Entry is $17 now and rises to $22 after Nov 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Bat 5 Mile Road Race

The course runs on a paved park road through Rocky Fork State Park, heading straight uphill to a turnaround point, then back down. The climb is gradual and steady the whole way out, which means the return is fast. Sharing the road with occasional vehicle traffic is part of the deal, so some situational awareness is required.

An aid station sits partway up the hill and you pass it twice, once going up and once coming back down. The organizers encourage bringing your own water anyway, which is worth taking seriously on that climb.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5 Miles · 2025 results

31finishers

38:33winner

1:05:48median

2:22:27cutoff

Top 3: Joe McMahon (38:33) · Cameron Cooper (42:19) · Brent Bueche (45:15)

The Bat 5 Mile Road Race 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.

Where Would You Finish?

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

5 Miles11/21/2026 11:00$17

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 The Bat 5 Mile Road Race

Will I finish last at the Bat 5 Mile Road Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5 Miles field finished slower than 1:05:48, and the last recorded finisher came in around 2:22:27, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Bat 5 Mile Road Race a good first 5 Miles?

It is a small race (31 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 5 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Bat 5 Mile Road Race?

The 5 Miles winner ran 38:33 while the median finisher took 1:05:48. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.