Sat, Sep 19, 2026

The Roanoke Canal 5k

Roanoke Rapids, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

Entry is $30 now and rises to $40 after Sep 18, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Roanoke Canal 5k

The course runs along the Roanoke Canal Trail on natural surface, mostly flat with a few rolling stretches. Along the way you pass over old culverts built into the canal itself and a large bulkhead that once diverted water to power local mills. The trail carries real history underfoot, and the race exists specifically to preserve a piece of it at the canal museum nearby.

Packet pickup and registration both open race morning at the start area on Oakwood Avenue. The shorter fun walk loops through the adjacent day use park, so families with mixed plans can stage from the same spot.

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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

87finishers

19:07winner

30:46median

1:00:11cutoff

Top 3: Avery Boone (19:07) · Aaron Boone (20:16) · Connor Melson (20:32)

The Roanoke Canal 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K9/19/2026 10:00$30

1/2 Mile Fun Walk9/19/2026 10:15$10

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 Roanoke Canal 5k

Will I finish last at the Roanoke Canal 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 30:46, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:11, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Roanoke Canal 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (87 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 Roanoke Canal 5k?

The 5K winner ran 19:07 while the median finisher took 30:46. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.