Sat, Mar 6, 2027

True to the Brew 5K

Columbia, SC

Opens Aug 1, 2026Annual since at least 2025

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Sep 30, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the True to the Brew 5K

The course runs along the Palmetto Trail's urban passage through downtown Columbia, so you are on a certified trail route while still running through the middle of the city. It starts and finishes near the Palmetto Trail offices on King Street, and the surrounding neighborhood gives it a genuine urban trail character rather than a road-race feel.

Packet pickup happens the evening before at Craft & Draft on Devine Street. On race day, pickup opens at the Palmetto Trail offices on King Street, close to the start. Parking is available at a church lot on Woodrow Street, with additional street parking in the Old Shandon neighborhood. After the race, there is live music, beer from Craft & Draft, and a cookout at the finish.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2026 results

400finishers

18:51winner

34:43median

1:11:02cutoff

Top 3: Victor Shellhammer (18:51) · Parker Roof (19:28) · Nora Dragovic (19:32)

The True to the Brew 5K 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

5K3/6/2027 09:00$35

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 True to the Brew 5K

Will I finish last at the True to the Brew 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:43, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:02, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the True to the Brew 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 400 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 True to the Brew 5K?

The 5K winner ran 18:51 while the median finisher took 34:43. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.