Sun, Oct 4, 2026

The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk

Ann Arbor, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile

Entry is $15 now and rises to $20 after Sep 27, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Rat Race 5k Run/Walk

The course starts and finishes under a large arch at the heart of a high school campus, heading out through school driveways and onto the surrounding streets. You loop out toward Huron Parkway, hit a turnaround at a nearby intersection, and work your way back the same way. It is an out-and-back on public roads with a water station at the turnaround, mostly flat with no significant climbs.

Race morning registration, pickup, and check-in all open under the arch, which also serves as the start and finish. Parking is in the campus lots off Fuller Road, with the lot near the football stadium and the lot near the tennis courts both suggested by the organizers.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

26finishers

18:19winner

31:24median

50:47cutoff

Top 3: Nicholas Pomante (18:19) · Max Coats (24:13) · Athiei Manyang (24:19)

1 Miles · 2025 results

4finishers

23:42winner

27:51median

32:21cutoff

Top 3: Kate Roberts (23:42) · Brian Roberts (23:44) · M. Tang (31:57)

The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

3.1 Miles10/4/2026 10:00$25

3.1 Miles10/4/2026 10:00$15

1 Mile10/4/2026 10:00$15

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 Rat Race 5k Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the Rat Race 5k Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:24, and the last recorded finisher came in around 50:47, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Rat Race 5k Run/Walk a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (26 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Rat Race 5k Run/Walk?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:19 while the median finisher took 31:24. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.