Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race

Spartanburg, SC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

5K1 Mile

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

About the Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race

The race is held at Milliken Arboretum in Spartanburg, with a cross-country style course through a natural setting. Teams are a big part of the culture here, with awards going to the most spirited group and the largest one, so expect costumes and matching outfits alongside people just out for a morning walk.

Packet pickup happens at a local bar a few days before the race, with a discount on draft beer while you collect your bib. The event raises money for families of children going through cancer treatment in the area, and that purpose tends to shape the atmosphere on the course and at the finish.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

86finishers

18:14winner

36:30median

1:04:57cutoff

Top 3: Kevin Codd (18:14) · Jake Skory (18:55) · Martin Tiller (19:59)

The Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race has been held every year since at least 2024. 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

5K9/26/2026 09:00$35

1 Mile9/26/2026 09:30$30

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

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Common Questions About the Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race

Will I finish last at the Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:30, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:04:57, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race a good first 5K?

It is a small race (86 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 Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer Race?

The 5K winner ran 18:14 while the median finisher took 36:30. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.