Course
Course Map 2026
1 Mile5K
Helena Sun Run 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Start time
- 10:00 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Helena, Montana
- Entry fee
- From $30
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile Run/Walk | 1 Mile | Oct 3, 202610:00 AM | $30 | – |
| 5k Run/Walk | 5K | Oct 3, 202610:30 AM | $30 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $30 until Oct 3.
Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Montana ($30).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Helena runs 42:29, about 13:40 a mile, based on 7 races with published results. Women typically finish in 46:12 and men in 36:20.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:28 AM, and the 1 mile Run/Walk starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 4,690 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.
Start location and course
Smith Elementary School, Helena, MT 59601
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)106
finishers
30:01
median (9:40 /mi)
16:33
winning time
50% / 50%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Competitive Timing) for Helena Sun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Helena Sun Run?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:08 or better, the top quarter in 26:04, and half the field in 30:01; the last tenth came in after 48:49.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 29:45 | 27:59 |
| 20-29 | 31:59 | 18:19 |
| 30-39 | 28:24 | 21:13 |
| 40-49 | 25:52 | 26:10 |
| 50-59 | 33:15 | 24:01 |
| 60-69 | 29:53 | 29:56 |
| 70+ | n/a | 36:04 |
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 9 percent since 2021.
97
2021
61
2022
100
2023
117
2024
106
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Helena Sun Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 97 to 106 finishers, and the median time rose from 29:04 to 30:01.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 106 (-9%) | 30:01 | under 23:08 | 16:33 |
| 2024 | 117 (+17%) | 29:39 | under 19:28 | 16:18 |
| 2023 | 100 (+64%) | 30:21 | under 20:40 | 15:53 |
| 2022 | 61 (-37%) | 28:44 | under 19:08 | 16:20 |
| 2021 | 97 | 29:04 | under 20:54 | 16:18 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Montana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:04, against 28:50 in a typical Montana 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.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 3 the day usually runs from 36°F at dawn to 58°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 11% of days. Cold snaps dip to 27°F and hot years reach 74°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 Helena Sun Run cover on their registration page, in brief.
Race details
- Where
- Smith Elementary School, Helena, MT 59601Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 4,690 feet
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 3, 2026), 2025 (Oct 4, 2025), 2024 (Oct 5, 2024), 2023 (Oct 7, 2023), 2022 (Oct 1, 2022), 2021 (Oct 2, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Helena Sun Run?
- Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Montana?
- At $30, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in Montana ($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?
- 1 Mile, 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 106 runners finished the 5k Run/Walk; the median finish was 30:01 and the winner ran 16:33.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 26:04, against 28:50 in a typical Montana 5K, so times here run 10 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Smith Elementary School, Helena, MT 59601.
From the organizers
A 5 kilometer run/walk (timed) and 1 mile (untimed) run/walk starting and ending at Smith Elementary School (2320 5th Ave). The purpose of the event is to support clean energy and awareness of climate solutions in Montana's capital city. This year’s event will help raise funds for a solar photovoltaic array at Smith School.
The un-timed 1 mile event starts at 10:00 a.m., and the timed 5k starts at 10:30 a.m.
On-site packet pick-up opens at 9:00 a.m.
Sun Run swag available to the first 200 to register. Registration is FREE for kids 12-and-under!