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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5k Run/Walk | 5K | Mar 28, 20279:00 AM | $39$44 after Dec 28, 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 $44 on Dec 28, 2026.
Online registration closes Mar 28, 2027, unless the race fills first.
At $39, entry is about 11 percent above a typical 5K in Colorado, which costs $35 right now.
A typical finisher at a 5K in Denver runs 37:34, about 12:05 a mile, based on 47 races with published results. Women typically finish in 39:56 and men in 33:00.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:51 AM, and the 5k Run/Walk starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 5,250 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Denver, CO 80238
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
Aggregated from official results (3W Races) for Central Park 5k. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
In 2026, the fastest tenth finished in 21:44 or better, the top quarter in 26:48, and half the field in 31:45; the last tenth came in after 48:47.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 32:15 | 25:36 |
| 20-29 | 22:52 | 17:21 |
| 30-39 | 22:16 | 19:08 |
| 40-49 | 25:01 | 19:26 |
| 50-59 | 29:41 | 21:41 |
| 60-69 | 33:47 | 31:07 |
| 70+ | 39:34 | 35:39 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Up 31 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2022 to 2026, the field went from 224 to 294 finishers, and the median time dropped from 32:10 to 31:45.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 294 (+5%) | 31:45 | under 21:44 | 16:50 |
| 2025 | 281 (-23%) | 31:43 | under 22:19 | 16:33 |
| 2024 | 363 (+64%) | 33:09 | under 23:19 | 15:57 |
| 2023 | 221 (-1%) | 33:28 | under 23:05 | 16:24 |
| 2022 | 224 | 32:10 | under 22:28 | 15:50 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Faster than most Colorado 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 26:48, against 29:37 in a typical Colorado 5K, so times here run 10 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.
Around March 28 the day usually runs from 31°F at dawn to 59°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 11% of days. Cold snaps dip to 21°F and hot years reach 76°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.
What the organizers of Central Park 5k cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Advanced Packet Pick Up: Don't stand in line on race day. Get your bib and shirt at Advanced Packet Pick up so you can have a few extra moments of SLEEP on race day. Date: TBD. Place: TBD. Time:4-7pm. Picking up for a friend? Yes! You can…
Schedule and packet pickup
Sponsor Information - Central Park 5k. Pre-Event Contact. We would love to work with you to feature your product or business with our racers. There are many ways to be involved and gain exposure, from hosting a packet pick up location or…
Schedule and packet pickup
When you bring FIVE donations for our charity partner, you'll be entered into an exclusive raffle for prizes from 3W Races and our sponsors! See below for items in need. Drop off your items with our charity partner representative at the 3W…
Schedule and packet pickup
8:00 AM Late Packet Pick Up and Walk Up Registration. 9:00 AM 5k Start. 9:45 AM 5K Awards. 10:00 AM Expo and Finish Line Close.
Course
This is a flat and fast 1.5 clockwise loops on asphalt around Central Park! CLICK HERE for an interactive 5K map on MapMyRun. Start, Finish & Expo: Central Park, Denver - 8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Denver, CO US 80238. Parking…
Parking and travel
Ample free parking is available in the lots around this park on the south, southeast and north east sides of the park. See map with BLUE parking indicators here.
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Is it spring—or does winter still have one last surprise waiting for us? There’s only one way to find out! Join us at the end of March for the Central Park 5K and celebrate the changing season with a run or walk through Denver’s Central Park neighborhood.
The flat, fast course welcomes participants of every pace and ability. Chase a new personal best, enjoy a comfortable walk with friends or bring the whole family out to shake off the winter cabin fever. After you finish, visit our Kite Station to decorate your own kite and send it soaring over Central Park’s wide-open fields!