Schedule and packet pickup
Food Drive- Feed Our Vets
At packet pick up & at the race, we will be collecting canned food and non-perishable foods for our vets!
Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse) 2026
- Date
- Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Start time
- 10:15 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Syracuse, New York
- Entry fee
- From $40
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of the Branches 5K Ruck Division | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | – |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Air Force) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | 40 |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Army) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | 91 |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Coast Guard) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | – |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Marines) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | 30 |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Navy) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | 45 |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (US Space Force) | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $40 | – |
| Battle of the Branches 5K (Virtual)Virtual | 5K | Nov 7, 202610:15 AM | $46 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $40 until Nov 7.
Online registration closes Nov 7, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in New York, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Syracuse runs 32:24, about 10:26 a mile, based on 11 races with published results. Women typically finish in 34:11 and men in 29:45.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:46 AM, and the Battle of the Branches 5K Ruck Division starts at 10:15 AM. The start sits about 460 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (2 years)Battle of the Branches 5K (US Army)
155
finishers
30:50
median (9:57 /mi)
18:28
winning time
49% / 51%
women / men
Battle of the Branches 5K Ruck Division
8
finishers
30:13
median (9:45 /mi)
26:58
winning time
25% / 75%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Willow Running) for Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse). Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse)?
At the 2025 Battle of the Branches 5K (US Army), the fastest tenth finished in 23:44 or better, the top quarter in 26:36, and half the field in 30:50; the last tenth came in after 44:30.
At the 2025 Battle of the Branches 5K Ruck Division, the fastest tenth finished in 27:20 or better, the top quarter in 28:53, and half the field in 30:13; the last tenth came in after 34:45.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | n/a | 23:45 |
| 20-29 | 24:30 | 23:11 |
| 30-39 | 27:13 | 22:00 |
| 40-49 | 27:47 | 23:05 |
| 50-59 | 26:17 | 25:15 |
| 60-69 | 37:54 | 27:13 |
| 70+ | n/a | 43:23 |
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 45 percent since 2024.
295
2024
163
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse) 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 171 to 155 finishers, and the median time dropped from 32:24 to 30:50.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 155 (-9%) | 30:50 | under 23:44 | 18:28 |
| 2024 | 171 | 32:24 | under 25:31 | 17:58 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most New York 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:36, against 27:55 in a typical New York 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
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 November 7 the day usually runs from 37°F at dawn to 51°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 43% of days. Cold snaps dip to 31°F and hot years reach 65°F.
Based on 70 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse) cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Packet Pickup
Pre-race Packet Pick up to be determined, more details will follow. Saturday November 7th 9:00am-10:10am at the Center of Progress Bldg, NYS Fairgrounds, Solvay, NY 13209.
Parking and travel
Parking
All non-veteran runners should park in the Brown Lot at the NYS Fairgrounds. Runners who serve/served in one of the 6 Branches can park in the Pink Lot if so desired.
Race details
- Where
- 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 460 feet
- Included with entry
- Custom shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Nov 7, 2026), 2025 (Nov 8, 2025), 2024 (Nov 9, 2024)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Battle of the Branches 5K (Syracuse)?
- Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 10:15 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $40 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Nov 7, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for New York?
- At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in New York, which costs $30 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, 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, 155 runners finished the Battle of the Branches 5K (US Army); the median finish was 30:50 and the winner ran 18:28.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:36, against 27:55 in a typical New York 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Join us for the 3rd Annual Battle of the Branches 5K on Saturday November 7, 2026 ahead of the CNY Veterans Parade and Expo at the NY State Fairgrounds (Syracuse). Choose which Branch (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard or Space Force) team you want to run with. All participants will receive a custom Battle of the Branches shirt as well as a finisher Challenge Coin. Whether you served or supported come join the fun fitness battle with your fellow brothers and sisters.