Fri, Apr 2, 2027

The INDY 5K

Birmingham, AL

Opens Nov 10, 2026Annual since at least 2019

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Jan 1, 2027, so registering before then saves $5.

About the INDY 5K

The course runs on the actual racetrack at Barber Motorsports Park, a road circuit with a long series of turns that most people only ever watch from the stands. The surface is smooth pavement, the route winds through the turns of the track itself, and the surroundings are the park's banked curves and open infield rather than anything that looks like a typical road race.

Packet pickup runs at a nearby hotel in the days before the race, with race-day pickup opening in the morning at the park's Lot E. Runners enter through that lot and walk a short distance to the start on the track. A post-race party follows the finish, and the hospitality tent includes drinks for those with valid ID. Pets are not permitted on the grounds.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 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 · 2026 results

480finishers

17:21winner

37:22median

1:13:15cutoff

Top 3: Camp Herndon (17:21) · Luca Zellner (18:05) · Evan Espinoza (19:17)

The INDY 5K has been held every year since at least 2019. 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 Sep 22, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K4/2/2027 17:30$30

Sleep In4/2/2027 17:30$25

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 INDY 5K

Will I finish last at the INDY 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 37:22, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:13:15, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the INDY 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 480 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 INDY 5K?

The 5K winner ran 17:21 while the median finisher took 37:22. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.