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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 hour Shuffle | – | Oct 3, 20262:00 PM | $70$80 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
| 6 Hour Team Shuffle | – | Oct 3, 20262:00 PM | $70$80 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
| Night Owl 10k | 10K | Oct 3, 20267:15 PM | $45$50 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
| Night Owl 5k | 5K | Oct 3, 20267:45 PM | $35$40 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 6 hour Shuffle fee goes up to $80 on Oct 3, 2026.
Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
At $45, entry is about 13 percent above a typical 10K in Minnesota, which costs $40 right now.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:10 AM, and the 6 hour Shuffle starts at 2:00 PM. The start sits about 930 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve 1515 Keats Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
Aggregated from official results for Night Owl 5k, 10k and the 6 hour shuffle. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2025 Night Owl 5k, the fastest tenth finished in 29:49 or better, the top quarter in 33:39, and half the field in 40:04; the last tenth came in after 54:34.
At the 2025 Night Owl 10k, the fastest tenth finished in 54:44 or better, the top quarter in 1:01:49, and half the field in 1:15:26; the last tenth came in after 1:35:40.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 40:04 | 40:02 |
| 20-29 | 37:18 | 36:01 |
| 30-39 | 45:15 | 39:57 |
| 40-49 | 34:22 | 31:42 |
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 2025.
Up 76 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 27 to 51 finishers, and the median time rose from 33:41 to 40:04.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 (-9%) | 40:04 | under 29:49 | 21:38 |
| 2024 | 56 (+133%) | 36:54 | under 27:39 | 22:58 |
| 2023 | 24 (-11%) | 39:11 | under 28:05 | 27:51 |
| 2022 | 27 | 33:41 | under 25:56 | 13:07 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Slower than most US trail 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 33:39, against 31:03 in a typical US trail 5K, so times here run 8 percent slower.
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 October 3 the day usually runs from 54°F at dawn to 71°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 15% of days. Cold snaps dip to 43°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.
What the organizers of Night Owl 5k, 10k and the 6 hour shuffle cover on their registration page, in brief.
Course
Runners of all races will start at the Nordic Center and follow the green trail to the brown trail. Runners will follow the brown trail around the lake back to the green trail following the green trail east to the 180 degree turn heading…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
The Night Owl Races are an excellent way to take the next step in trail running. The Six Hour Shuffle and Six Hour Team Shuffle is a good introduction to ultra running. Long enough to get past the marathon distance, but not too long. The Night Owl 5K and 10K are great introductions to night time trail running.
All three races are run on grassy ski trails over rolling hills. There will be trail lights on for the 5K, 10K races and the final hour and a half of the 6hr shuffle, runners need to bring supplemental lighting with either a headlamp or hand held flashlight.