Sat, Aug 15, 2026

Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual

Syracuse, NY

Registration open16th annual

4.4 Miles

About the Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual

The course starts and finishes at Meachem Field, heading out on neighborhood streets before ducking into the wooded trails of Rand Tract near a Methodist church. From there it loops around Webster Pond, the preserve the race was built to support, then comes back out onto pavement toward Clary Middle School and home. The mix of road and trail makes it feel like two different runs stitched together.

Packet pickup the evening before is at Gannon's Ice Cream on Valley Drive, which is about as local as it gets. Race-morning pickup opens early at the start area if you miss it. Registration is online only, so sort that out ahead of time.

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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.

4.4 Miles · 2025 results

197finishers

26:41winner

49:19median

1:24:28cutoff

Top 3: Reed Luton (26:41) · Patrick Dermody (26:58) · Kevin Abel (28:12)

The Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual is in its 16th year.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 4.4 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

4.4 Miles8/15/2026 09:00$25

4.4 Miles8/15/2026 19:00$25

Kids Run8/15/2026 08:30$5

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.

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Common Questions About the Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual

Will I finish last at the Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual?

Almost certainly not. Half the 4.4 Miles field finished slower than 49:19, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:24:28, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual a good first 4.4 Miles?

It is a small race (197 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 4.4 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Valley Nature Run - 16th Annual?

The 4.4 Miles winner ran 26:41 while the median finisher took 49:19. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.