Frederick Running Festival 2027
- Date
- Race weekend: Saturday to Sunday, May 1 to 2, 2027
- Start time
- 4:00 PM start (New York)
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Entry fee
- From Free
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, May 1, 2027 | ||||
| Kids Fun Run - 7 and Under | Kids | May 1, 20274:00 PM | $20 | – |
| Kids Fun Run - Charity Registration | Kids | May 1, 20274:00 PM | Free | – |
| Kids Fun Run - Kids 8 to 12 | Kids | May 1, 20274:00 PM | $20 | – |
| 5K - Charity Registration | 5K | May 1, 20275:00 PM | Free | – |
| Nut Job Challenge (Half & 5k) | 5K | May 1, 20275:00 PM | $140 | – |
| Nut Job Challenge (Half & 5k) - Charity Registration | 5K | May 1, 20275:00 PM | Free | – |
| Twilight 5K | 5K | May 1, 20275:00 PM | $45 | – |
| Sunday, May 2, 2027 | ||||
| 2 Person Team Relay | Relay | May 2, 20277:00 AM | $130 | – |
| 2 Person Team Relay - Charity Registration | Relay | May 2, 20277:00 AM | Free | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | May 2, 20277:00 AM | $100 | – |
| Half Marathon - Charity Registration | Half Marathon | May 2, 20277:00 AM | Free | – |
| Virtual 5kVirtual | 5K | May 1, 20276:30 AM | $40 | – |
| Virtual 5K - Charity RegistrationVirtual | 5K | May 1, 20276:30 AM | Free | – |
| Virtual Half MarathonVirtual | Half Marathon | May 1, 20276:30 AM | $95 | – |
| Virtual Half Marathon - Charity RegistrationVirtual | Half Marathon | May 2, 20276:30 AM | Free | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids Fun Run - 7 and Under and Kids Fun Run - Kids 8 to 12: $20 until Nov 30, then $15 until Dec 1, then $16 until Dec 3, then $17 until Dec 12, then $20 until May 1.
- Nut Job Challenge (Half & 5k): $140 until Nov 30, then $105 until Dec 1, then $112 until Dec 3, then $119 until Dec 12, then $140 until Dec 31, then $140 until Jan 3, then $150 until Feb 28, then $170 until Apr 26, then $190 until May 1.
- Twilight 5K: $45 until Nov 30, then $33.75 until Dec 1, then $36 until Dec 3, then $38.25 until Dec 12, then $45 until Dec 31, then $45 until Jan 3, then $50 until Feb 28, then $60 until Apr 26, then $65 until May 1.
- 2 Person Team Relay: $130 until Nov 30, then $97.50 until Dec 1, then $104 until Dec 3, then $110.50 until Dec 12, then $130 until Dec 31, then $130 until Jan 3, then $140 until Feb 28, then $160 until Apr 26, then $180 until May 1.
Online registration closes May 1, 2027, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $100, entry is about 33 percent above a typical half marathon in Maryland, which costs $75 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Maryland runs 2:09:10, about 9:51 a mile, based on 22 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:18:15 and men in 2:00:23.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:11 AM, and the Kids Fun Run - 7 and Under starts at 4:00 PM. The start sits about 370 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD 21701
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2026 results
All results (5 years)Half Marathon
Twilight 5K
Nut Job Challenge (Half & 5k)
Aggregated from official results (Mettle Events) for Frederick Running Festival. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Frederick Running Festival?
At the 2026 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:40:00 or better, the top quarter in 1:53:23, and half the field in 2:08:07; the last tenth came in after 2:46:57.
At the 2026 Twilight 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 25:55 or better, the top quarter in 29:38, and half the field in 34:13; the last tenth came in after 46:52.
At the 2026 Nut Job Challenge (Half & 5k), the fastest tenth finished in 2:09:19 or better, the top quarter in 2:24:25, and half the field in 2:42:39; the last tenth came in after 3:34:01.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 1:42:37 | 1:23:20 |
| 20-29 | 1:28:21 | 1:13:07 |
| 30-39 | 1:27:43 | 1:19:06 |
| 40-49 | 1:31:33 | 1:19:26 |
| 50-59 | 1:51:54 | 1:27:21 |
| 60-69 | 1:56:15 | 1:45:07 |
| 70+ | 2:42:41 | 1:58:28 |
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 2026.
Finishers by year
Up 28 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
Frederick Running Festival Half Marathon year by year
From 2022 to 2026, the field went from 2,564 to 2,806 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:12:21 to 2:08:07.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,806 (+14%) | 2:08:07 | under 1:40:00 | 1:11:51 |
| 2025 | 2,468 (same) | 2:11:59 | under 1:43:24 | 1:12:23 |
| 2024 | 2,469 (+4%) | 2:10:23 | under 1:42:18 | 1:09:23 |
| 2023 | 2,383 (-7%) | 2:12:46 | under 1:43:19 | 1:09:12 |
| 2022 | 2,564 | 2:12:21 | under 1:43:05 | 1:11:58 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Maryland half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2026 half marathon field finished under 1:53:23, against 1:55:46 in a typical Maryland half marathon, so times here are about average.
- 5K: About average for Maryland 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 29:38, against 29:50 in a typical Maryland 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 May 1 the day usually runs from 48°F at dawn to 69°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 29% of days. Cold snaps dip to 39°F and hot years reach 82°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
- Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD 21701Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 370 feet
- Distances
- 5K, Half Marathon, Kids, Relay
- Editions
- 2027 (May 1, 2027), 2026 (May 2, 2026), 2025 (May 3, 2025), 2024 (May 4, 2024), 2023 (May 6, 2023), 2022 (Apr 30, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Frederick Running Festival?
- It is a race weekend, Saturday to Sunday, May 1 to 2, 2027: Kids, 5K on Saturday; Relay, Half Marathon on Sunday.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes May 1, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Maryland?
- At $100, entry is about 33 percent above a typical half marathon in Maryland, which costs $75 right now.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, Half Marathon, Kids, Relay.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 2,806 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:08:07 and the winner ran 1:11:51.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2026 half marathon field finished under 1:53:23, against 1:55:46 in a typical Maryland half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Frederick Fairgrounds, Frederick, MD 21701.
From the organizers
Tucked away in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., the Frederick Running Festival is one of the hidden gems of the running community. The festival features four races, which all finish at the Frederick Fairgrounds. Runners can experience a big time race with small town charm with the added value of off-site packet pick-up in the suburbs of Maryland. Choose between a half-marathon and two-person team relay on Sunday or the 5K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday.
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