Sat, Sep 12, 2026

The Denver 5k

Denver, CO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

5K50 Yards

Entry is $49.85 now and rises to $54.85 after Sep 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Denver 5k

The course loops around Sloan Lake on concrete the entire way, counter-clockwise from the south side of the park. It is flat throughout, with the skyline visible across the water. Dogs on leashes and strollers are both welcome, and the finish area has water for refilling bottles rather than disposable cups, so bring your own.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at Road Runner Sports in Lakewood, with free parking a short walk away. You can also pick up on race morning before the start. The finish area doubles as an expo, and there are restrooms in the park as well as portable toilets near the parking lot.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

310finishers

17:41winner

34:36median

1:02:50cutoff

Top 3: Cooper Cohen (17:41) · Andrew Townsend (18:49) · Nic Boerio (18:50)

The Denver 5k has been held every year since at least 2017. 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

5K9/12/2026 09:00$50

50 Yards9/12/2026 08:50Free

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 Denver 5k

Will I finish last at the Denver 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:36, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:50, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Denver 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 310 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Denver 5k?

The 5K winner ran 17:41 while the median finisher took 34:36. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Denver 5k?

Join a local run club. Rocky Mountain Road Runners, Colorado Harriers, Revolution Running and others in Denver welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.