Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Gastonia, North Carolina
- Entry fee
- From $15
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt and a finisher medal
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bit of Hope Half-Pint race (ages 7 and under) | Other | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $15 | – |
| Bit of Hope 5K Trail Run 2K Walk | 5K | Oct 10, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| Bit of Hope 2K Walk | Other | Oct 10, 20269:05 AM | $35 | – |
| Bit of Hope 5K Virtual RunVirtual | 5K | Oct 10, 202612:01 AM | $20 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Bit of Hope Half-Pint race (ages 7 and under): $15 until Oct 10.
- Bit of Hope 5K Trail Run 2K Walk and Bit of Hope 2K Walk: $35 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in North Carolina runs 36:24, about 11:43 a mile, based on 32 races with published results. Women typically finish in 39:39 and men in 31:52.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:25 AM, and the Bit of Hope Half-Pint race (ages 7 and under) starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 730 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
5001 CR Wood Road, Gastonia, NC 28056
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 Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 28:01 or better, the top quarter in 31:02, and half the field in 37:33; the last tenth came in after 54:08.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 38:58 | 28:49 |
| 20-29 | 37:33 | 30:12 |
| 30-39 | 29:21 | 27:20 |
| 40-49 | 37:50 | n/a |
| 50-59 | 40:58 | 36:52 |
| 60-69 | n/a | 32:35 |
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
Up 14 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 66 to 75 finishers, and the median time rose from 34:08 to 37:33.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75 (+1%) | 37:33 | under 28:01 | 21:45 |
| 2024 | 74 (+19%) | 38:03 | under 27:46 | 22:35 |
| 2023 | 62 (+5%) | 36:10 | under 26:32 | 21:58 |
| 2022 | 59 (-11%) | 34:20 | under 26:40 | 21:32 |
| 2021 | 66 | 34:08 | under 23:02 | 18:31 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for North Carolina trail 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 31:02, against 30:14 in a typical North Carolina trail 5K, so times here are about average.
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 10 the day usually runs from 56°F at dawn to 75°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 12% of days. Cold snaps dip to 46°F and hot years reach 81°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
- 5001 CR Wood Road, Gastonia, NC 28056Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 730 feet
- Included with entry
- Shaved Ice Cone and a participant medal; T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 11, 2025), 2024 (Oct 12, 2024), 2023 (Oct 14, 2023), 2022 (Oct 8, 2022), 2021 (Oct 9, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Bit of Hope Ranch 5K Trail Run, 2K Walk, & Half-Pint Run?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $15 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for North Carolina?
- At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in North Carolina, which costs $30 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt and a finisher medal, 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, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 75 runners finished the Bit of Hope 5K Trail Run; the median finish was 37:33 and the winner ran 21:45.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 31:02, against 30:14 in a typical North Carolina trail 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 5001 CR Wood Road, Gastonia, NC 28056.
From the organizers
This is a Rain or Sunshine Event. We will cancel if there is lightning.
Certified 5K Trail Run on a 50 acre horse ranch in southern Gaston County, NC. Plus a 2K Walk and Half-pint Run (ages 7 and under)
Date: Saturday 10/10/2025
Times: 8:30 am for Half-pint run and 9:00 am start for the 5K Trail Run. Walkers start after the runners leave.
Walk up registration starts at 7:30 am on race day. Shirts are on a first come basis if available.
The registration fees are:
5K runners is $35 (early registration is $30 until August 31).
2K walkers is $35 (early registration is $30 until August 31).
Half-Pint participants is $15.