Sat, Sep 5, 2026

Watermelon Run

Lawrence, MI

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

5K10K15K

About the Watermelon Run

The Watermelon Run is part of a larger community Ox Roast celebration over Labor Day weekend, so the atmosphere around the start and finish reflects that, not just a road race on its own. The courses are certified and run on roads out of the Van Buren Conference Center, with several distance options to choose from.

Bib pickup is on race morning at the Van Buren Conference Center on Paw Paw Street. After you finish, fresh watermelon is out, and registration covers a pancake and sausage breakfast held at the local fire department, a short distance away on the same street.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

121finishers

15:35winner

31:41median

1:09:55cutoff

Top 3: Alec Saylor (15:35) · Rolando Munoz (19:53) · Jim Charbauski (19:57)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

32finishers

35:57winner

56:23median

1:22:42cutoff

Top 3: Christopher Vogt (35:57) · Trap Abbott (42:21) · Daniel Cook (42:28)

9.3 Miles · 2025 results

18finishers

1:07:51winner

1:31:50median

2:09:31cutoff

Top 3: BRENT ROWE (1:07:51) · Sasha Villagrana-Frost (1:08:46) · Jacob Daniel (1:18:40)

The Watermelon Run has been held every year since at least 2016. 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 3.1 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

3.1 Miles9/5/2026 08:30$30

6.2 Miles9/5/2026 08:30$30

9.3 Miles9/5/2026 08:30$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 Watermelon Run

Will I finish last at the Watermelon Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 31:41, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:55, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Watermelon Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (121 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Watermelon Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:35 while the median finisher took 31:41. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.