30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Entry fee
- From $35 · goes up to $40 on Oct 9, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes socks
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter | 5K | Oct 17, 20268:00 AM | $35$40 after Oct 9, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 5K fee goes up to $40 on Oct 9, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $35 until Oct 9, then $40 until Oct 17.
Online registration closes Oct 17, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Virginia ($35).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Charlottesville runs 35:26, about 11:24 a mile, based on 12 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:56 and men in 29:45.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:23 AM, and the 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 500 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
213 west Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22901
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (5 years)Aggregated from official results for 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:33 or better, the top quarter in 30:21, and half the field in 35:20; the last tenth came in after 57:57.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 57:21 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 30:57 | n/a |
| 40-49 | 29:17 | n/a |
| 50-59 | 41:05 | 30:17 |
| 60-69 | 34:53 | 29:04 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Down 6 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 77 to 72 finishers, and the median time rose from 35:14 to 35:20.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72 (-44%) | 35:20 | under 24:33 | 19:43 |
| 2024 | 128 (+133%) | 42:22 | under 25:51 | 19:15 |
| 2023 | 55 (-59%) | 35:31 | under 24:12 | 21:51 |
| 2022 | 135 (+75%) | 39:46 | under 22:36 | 18:06 |
| 2021 | 77 | 35:14 | under 24:10 | 19:28 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Virginia 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:21, against 28:55 in a typical Virginia 5K, so times here run 5 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 17 the day usually runs from 46°F at dawn to 70°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 9% of days. Cold snaps dip to 38°F and hot years reach 77°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 213 west Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22901Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 500 feet
- Included with entry
- 'Safe Love Rocks' Knee High Elite Sports Socks
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 17, 2026), 2025 (Nov 1, 2025), 2024 (Nov 2, 2024), 2023 (Oct 1, 2023), 2022 (Nov 5, 2022), 2021 (Nov 6, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is 30th Annual Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter?
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Oct 9, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 17, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Virginia?
- At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Virginia ($35).
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes socks, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 72 runners finished the Shelter for Help in Emergency 5K Run/Walk for Shelter; the median finish was 35:20 and the winner ran 19:43.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:21, against 28:55 in a typical Virginia 5K, so times here run 5 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 213 west Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
From the organizers
Celebrating 30 Years of Running!
Can you believe we have been running Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Mall for 30 years? We are excited to celebrate this milestone during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Join us for an active, empowering morning focused on healing for survivors and their families while helping create a safer community for all.
Who We Are