McKaig 5K Trail Race 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Start time
- 8:45 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Wayne, Pennsylvania
- Entry fee
- From Free
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Race (Free) | Kids | Oct 4, 20268:45 AM | Free | – |
| 5K | 5K | Oct 4, 20269:00 AM | $40 | – |
| Chili Cook-Off | – | Oct 4, 20269:00 AM | Free | – |
| Monkey Rock Miler | 1 Mile | Oct 4, 20269:05 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
- Kids Race (Free) and Chili Cook-Off: Free until Oct 4.
- 5K: $40 until Oct 4.
- Monkey Rock Miler: $30 until Oct 4.
Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Pennsylvania, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Pennsylvania runs 36:27, about 11:44 a mile, based on 39 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:17 and men in 33:16.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:59 AM, and the Kids Race (Free) starts at 8:45 AM. The start sits about 500 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
889 Croton Road, Wayne, PA 19087
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 (Bryn Mawr Racing Company) for McKaig 5K Trail Race. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at McKaig 5K Trail Race?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 26:32 or better, the top quarter in 29:26, and half the field in 34:48; the last tenth came in after 42:13.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 34:59 | 25:08 |
| 30-39 | 32:43 | 26:07 |
| 40-49 | 29:24 | 27:36 |
| 50-59 | 40:26 | 26:39 |
| 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 84 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
McKaig 5K Trail Race 5K year by year
From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 78 to 103 finishers, and the median time rose from 34:13 to 34:48.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 103 (+29%) | 34:48 | under 26:32 | 22:33 |
| 2024 | 80 (+19%) | 35:51 | under 27:27 | 24:59 |
| 2023 | 67 (-14%) | 38:36 | under 27:33 | 22:33 |
| 2022 | 78 | 34:13 | under 25:29 | 21:28 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for Pennsylvania trail 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:26, against 29:32 in a typical Pennsylvania trail 5K, so times here are about average.
- 8K: Faster than most US trail 8Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2021 8K field finished under 47:34, against 50:16 in a typical US trail 8K, so times here run 5 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 4 the day usually runs from 55°F at dawn to 69°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 19% of days. Cold snaps dip to 45°F and hot years reach 79°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
- 889 Croton Road, Wayne, PA 19087Map
- Course
- Trail
- Start elevation
- About 500 feet
- Included with entry
- Race Shirt; 10th Anniversary Hoodie
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 4, 2026), 2025 (Oct 5, 2025), 2024 (Oct 6, 2024), 2023 (Oct 8, 2023), 2022 (Oct 9, 2022), 2021 (Oct 10, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is McKaig 5K Trail Race?
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 8:45 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Pennsylvania?
- At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Pennsylvania, which costs $30 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt, 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?
- 1 Mile, 5K, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 103 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 34:48 and the winner ran 22:33.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 29:26, against 29:32 in a typical Pennsylvania trail 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 889 Croton Road, Wayne, PA 19087.
From the organizers
Get ready for another beautiful, fun-packed, Autumn morning at one of the region's most highly regarded 5k Trail Races. The McKaig Trail Race is kicking off its second decade as we celebrate our nation's 250th.
What you'll get:
*A special, always stylish McKaig Race T-Shirt (if registered by 9/28)
*Festival area with music and post-race food & beverages & vendors
*Free access to the chili cook-off where you can taste and vote for your favorites
*Professional chip timing and real time results by Bryn Mawr Racing Company.
Don't want to run or walk? Stop by the McKaig table and get a $5 band to be part of the chili tasting & judging