Sat, Nov 7, 2026

Veterans 5K Run & Walk

Rockford, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2013

5K400 Yards

About the Veterans 5K Run & Walk

The course runs on the Rock Valley College campus and is certified by USATF, so the route is measured and marked accurately. Alongside the standard run, there is a ruck division where participants carry a weighted pack the whole way, which gives the event a distinctly military character that fits the cause. Awards go deep into the age groups, with cash prizes for the top overall finishers.

There is no race-morning registration, and online registration closes before the event, so plan ahead. Packet pickup takes place before race day.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized 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

518finishers

17:32winner

35:06median

1:16:08cutoff

Top 3: Lucas Molina (17:32) · Jeff Rehfeldt (17:54) · Luke Jeanmaire (18:08)

The Veterans 5K Run & Walk has been held every year since at least 2013. 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

5K11/7/2026 10:00$35

5K11/7/2026 10:00$15

400 Yards11/7/2026 09:30Free

Volunteer11/7/2026 07:00Free

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 Veterans 5K Run & Walk

Will I finish last at the Veterans 5K Run & Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:06, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:16:08, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Veterans 5K Run & Walk a good first 5K?

A field of 518 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 Veterans 5K Run & Walk?

The 5K winner ran 17:32 while the median finisher took 35:06. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.