Sat, Oct 24, 2026

The NCANA Run for Joy 5K

Winston Salem, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Aug 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the NCANA Run for Joy 5K

This race exists because of a specific loss. Katelyn Joy Beardsley was a nurse anesthesia student who died by suicide shortly before she would have finished her program, and the event was built in her memory to support mental health awareness among health care trainees. The course runs through Jamison Park, a neighborhood park setting in Winston-Salem.

Packet pickup happens the evening before at Cugino Forno, a restaurant in a downtown area with a parking deck nearby and signs to guide you in. Race-morning pickup is available at the park before the start. Parking is at the two schools along Meadowlark Drive, a short walk from the start line.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly 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

291finishers

17:33winner

34:05median

1:09:33cutoff

Top 3: Brad Coomer (17:33) · Johnny Marshall (17:51) · Kaan Peksenar (17:58)

The NCANA Run for Joy 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 09:00$30

3.1 Miles10/24/2026 09:00$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 NCANA Run for Joy 5K

Will I finish last at the NCANA Run for Joy 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 34:05, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:33, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the NCANA Run for Joy 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 291 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 NCANA Run for Joy 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:33 while the median finisher took 34:05. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.