Schedule and packet pickup
Race Day Details
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Fall Running Series 2026
- Date
- 5 race dates, September 29 to October 27, 2026
- Start time
- 6:15 PM start (New York)
- Location
- Peninsula, Ohio
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $35 on Oct 3, 2026
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Sep 29, 2026 | ||||
| Fall Running Series #1 | Other | Sep 29, 20266:15 PM | $35 | – |
| Fall Running Series Package | Other | Sep 29, 20266:15 PM | $160 | – |
| Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026 | ||||
| Fall Running Series #2 | Other | Oct 6, 20266:15 PM | $30$35 after Sep 26, 2026 | – |
| Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026 | ||||
| Fall Running Series #3 | Other | Oct 13, 20266:15 PM | $30$35 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
| Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 | ||||
| Fall Running Series #4 | Other | Oct 20, 20266:15 PM | $30$35 after Oct 10, 2026 | – |
| Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026 | ||||
| Fall Running Series #5 | 5K | Oct 27, 20266:15 PM | $30$35 after Oct 17, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
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The Other fee goes up to $35 on Oct 3, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Fall Running Series #1: $35 until Sep 29.
- Fall Running Series Package: $160 until Sep 29.
- Fall Running Series #2: $35 until Oct 6.
- Fall Running Series #3: $30 until Oct 2, then $35 until Oct 13.
Online registration closes Oct 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Ohio ($30).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Ohio runs 38:25, about 12:22 a mile, based on 53 races with published results. Women typically finish in 42:35 and men in 33:13.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:19 AM, and the Fall Running Series #1 starts at 6:15 PM. The start sits about 720 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Various locations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Peninsula, OH 44264
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)Fall Running Series #1
239
finishers
44:25
median (8:53 /mi)
24:04
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
Fall Running Series #3
214
finishers
44:15
median (11:04 /mi)
28:20
winning time
53% / 47%
women / men
Fall Running Series #5
207
finishers
33:28
median (11:09 /mi)
18:16
winning time
48% / 52%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Western Reserve Racing) for Fall Running Series. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Fall Running Series?
At the 2025 Fall Running Series #1, the fastest tenth finished in 32:55 or better, the top quarter in 38:47, and half the field in 44:25; the last tenth came in after 1:00:06.
At the 2025 Fall Running Series #3, the fastest tenth finished in 32:58 or better, the top quarter in 38:21, and half the field in 44:15; the last tenth came in after 1:02:09.
At the 2025 Fall Running Series #5, the fastest tenth finished in 24:51 or better, the top quarter in 28:00, and half the field in 33:28; the last tenth came in after 45:25.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | n/a | 43:39 |
| 20-29 | 40:17 | 30:59 |
| 30-39 | 34:09 | 27:56 |
| 40-49 | 38:34 | 30:12 |
| 50-59 | 39:43 | 33:53 |
| 60-69 | 56:56 | 36:18 |
| 70+ | n/a | 50:53 |
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 26 percent since 2021.
824
2021
908
2022
908
2023
883
2024
1,037
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Fall Running Series 8K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 180 to 239 finishers, and the median time dropped from 55:25 to 44:25.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 239 (+26%) | 44:25 | under 32:55 | 24:04 |
| 2024 | 189 (+5%) | 48:15 | under 35:28 | 28:12 |
| 2023 | 180 | 55:25 | under 41:47 | 32:32 |
From each year's official results for the 8K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Ohio trail 8Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 8K field finished under 38:47, against 52:57 in a typical Ohio trail 8K, so times here run 27 percent faster.
- 5K: Faster than most Ohio trail 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:00, against 32:57 in a typical Ohio trail 5K, so times here run 15 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 September 29 the day usually runs from 55°F at dawn to 74°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 31% of days. Cold snaps dip to 48°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.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Fall Running Series cover on their registration page, in brief.
Shirt and medal
Swag
Series participants receive all of the following: TBD. Feetures Socks. Nathan Strobe Light. Finisher Medal. Individual race participants will choose from a grab bag assortment of swag.
Awards
Series Awards
Top 3 Overall Male and Female. Top 3 Male and Female in the following 5-year age groups: 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 & Over.
Awards
Series Scoring
SERIES PARTICIPATION: Participating will automatically enter you in the series. Series points will be awarded based on your overall ranking and your age group ranking – by gender. The first four races in the series will be counted. The…
The cause
Donations
Donations benefit the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Race details
- Where
- Various locations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Peninsula, OH 44264Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 720 feet
- Included with entry
- Giveaway
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Sep 29, 2026), 2025 (Sep 30, 2025), 2024 (Oct 1, 2024), 2023 (Oct 3, 2023), 2022 (Sep 27, 2022), 2021 (Sep 28, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Fall Running Series?
- It runs on 5 dates from September 29 to October 27, 2026. The next is Tuesday, September 29, 2026, starting at 6:15 PM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $35 on Oct 3, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Ohio?
- At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Ohio ($30).
- 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, 239 runners finished the Fall Running Series #1; the median finish was 44:25 and the winner ran 24:04.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 8K field finished under 38:47, against 52:57 in a typical Ohio trail 8K, so times here run 27 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Various locations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Peninsula, OH 44264.
From the organizers
Come join the fun in Cuyahoga Valley National Park! The Fall Running Series consists of weekly fun-themed trail races on Tuesday evenings in October. The series includes awesome swag and five high-energy events with a twist. Each event is held at a different location in the CVNP and is between 3 and 5 miles. To add to the excitement, the twist remains a secret until just before the start of the event. It's a great time of the year to make new friends on the trails!