Fri, Aug 7, 2026

Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk

Valparaiso, IN

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

5K1 Mile

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Aug 7, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk

The Whisker Run pairs a road race with a dog walk, so the start area tends to have leashes and four-legged spectators alongside the usual pre-race energy. The race runs in the evening, which keeps the atmosphere loose and social rather than a crack-of-dawn grind. It is part of a regional racing series, so you may recognize faces from other local events.

After finishing, there is a pop-up biergarten nearby with craft beer and live music, which gives the whole thing a block-party feel. Packet pickup happens at a local fitness shop in the days before the race, with an on-site option available on race day as well.

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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

235finishers

16:22winner

33:53median

1:01:52cutoff

Top 3: Nathan O'Connor (16:22) · Thomas Tullius (17:54) · Kyle Nurse (18:49)

The Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk 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

5K8/7/2026 18:15$35

1 Mile8/7/2026 18:20$15

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 Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk

Will I finish last at the Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 33:53, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:01:52, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk a good first 5K?

A field of 235 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 Whisker Run 5K and 1 Mile Dog Walk?

The 5K winner ran 16:22 while the median finisher took 33:53. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.