Sun, Sep 20, 2026

The Opening Act 5K Run & Walk

Carmel, IN

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

About the Opening Act 5K Run & Walk

The course runs along the Monon, heading north before curving west through a park, then south and back to the finish on Monon Blvd in MidTown. It is a road race on a multi-use trail and boulevard, mostly flat, through a lively part of Carmel.

The race is timed to end just before PorchFest, a free all-day music festival a short walk from the finish. Post-race, MidTown restaurants offer specials, and a jazz band leads a procession over to the festival. The finish area sits in a designated open-container district, so the party starts early.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

158finishers

18:36winner

35:15median

57:46cutoff

Top 3: Eddie Stage (18:36) · Hannah Zak (19:42) · Maddie Christman (19:48)

· 2025 results

3finishers

23:12winner

30:31median

31:33cutoff

Top 3: B. Coyle (23:12) · I. Lehman (30:31) · S. Heindl (31:33)

The Opening Act 5K Run & Walk has been held every year since at least 2025. 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

5K9/20/2026 10:30$40

The Opening Act 5K - Virtual from your stage!9/20/2026 10:30$35

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Common Questions About the The Opening Act 5K Run & Walk

Will I finish last at the Opening Act 5K Run & Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:15, and the last recorded finisher came in around 57:46, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Opening Act 5K Run & Walk a good first 5K?

It is a small race (158 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Opening Act 5K Run & Walk?

The 5K winner ran 18:36 while the median finisher took 35:15. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.