Poppy's Run For Life 2027
- Date
- Sunday, April 4, 2027
- Start time
- 7:55 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Entry fee
- From $25 · goes up to $45 on Oct 28, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- 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
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poppy's AWD 10K (Athletes with Disabilities) | 10K | Apr 4, 20277:55 AM | $25 | – |
| Poppy's AWD 1K (Athletes with Disabilities) | Other | Apr 4, 20277:55 AM | $25 | – |
| Poppy's AWD 5K (Athletes with Disabilities) | 5K | Apr 4, 20277:55 AM | $25 | – |
| Virtual Poppy's Run For Life 1K/5K/10K | 10K | Apr 4, 20277:55 AM | $35 | – |
| Poppy's Run For Life 10K | 10K | Apr 4, 20278:00 AM | $35$45 after Oct 28, 2026 | – |
| Poppy's Run For Life - 5K | 5K | Apr 4, 20278:00 AM | $30$35 after Oct 28, 2026 | – |
| Poppy's Run For Life 1K | Other | Apr 4, 20278:15 AM | $30$35 after Oct 28, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 10K fee goes up to $45 on Oct 28, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Poppy's AWD 10K (Athletes with Disabilities) and Poppy's AWD 5K (Athletes with Disabilities): $25 until Apr 4.
- Poppy's AWD 1K (Athletes with Disabilities): $25 until Apr 5.
- Virtual Poppy's Run For Life 1K/5K/10K: $35 until Apr 4.
- Poppy's Run For Life 10K: $35 until Oct 28, then $45 until Jan 28, then $50 until Apr 4.
Online registration closes Apr 5, 2027, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $25, entry is about 42 percent below a typical 10K in Texas, which costs $43 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Houston runs 1:02:32, about 10:04 a mile, based on 21 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:06:12 and men in 58:05.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:08 AM, and the Poppy's AWD 10K (Athletes with Disabilities) starts at 7:55 AM. The start sits about 50 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2920 Riverby Rd., Houston, TX 77020
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 (2 years)Poppy's Run For Life - 5K
Poppy's Run For Life 10K
Poppy's Run For Life 1K
Aggregated from official results for Poppy's Run For Life. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Poppy's Run For Life?
At the 2026 Poppy's Run For Life - 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 26:31 or better, the top quarter in 31:04, and half the field in 40:22; the last tenth came in after 1:03:00.
At the 2026 Poppy's Run For Life 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 49:16 or better, the top quarter in 55:57, and half the field in 1:01:12; the last tenth came in after 1:20:47.
At the 2026 Poppy's Run For Life 1K, the fastest tenth finished in 6:09 or better, the top quarter in 10:19, and half the field in 12:20; the last tenth came in after 1:09:32.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 42:08 | 27:05 |
| 20-29 | 26:00 | 24:03 |
| 30-39 | 28:24 | 24:31 |
| 40-49 | 27:26 | 26:51 |
| 50-59 | 35:39 | 25:51 |
| 60-69 | 30:07 | 27:34 |
| 70+ | 39:47 | 53:58 |
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 80 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Poppy's Run For Life 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2026, the field went from 193 to 247 finishers, and the median time rose from 36:20 to 40:22.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 247 (+28%) | 40:22 | under 26:31 | 17:55 |
| 2024 | 193 | 36:20 | under 25:12 | 19:58 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Texas 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 31:04, against 30:02 in a typical Texas 5K, so times here run 3 percent slower.
- 10K: About average for Texas 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2026 10K field finished under 55:57, against 57:11 in a typical Texas 10K, 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 April 4 the day usually runs from 62°F at dawn to 80°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 33% of days. Cold snaps dip to 52°F and hot years reach 84°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
- 2920 Riverby Rd., Houston, TX 77020Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 50 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Other
- Editions
- 2027 (Apr 4, 2027), 2026 (Feb 28, 2026), 2025 (Mar 30, 2025), 2024 (Mar 17, 2024), 2023 (Apr 16, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Poppy's Run For Life?
- Sunday, April 4, 2027, starting at 7:55 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $25 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Oct 28, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Apr 5, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Texas?
- At $25, entry is about 42 percent below a typical 10K in Texas, which costs $43 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, 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?
- 5K, 10K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 247 runners finished the Poppy's Run For Life - 5K; the median finish was 40:22 and the winner ran 17:55.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 31:04, against 30:02 in a typical Texas 5K, so times here run 3 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 2920 Riverby Rd., Houston, TX 77020.
From the organizers
To honor those who have died by suicide and those who are forever affected by suicide, the 5th annual Poppy's Run For Life will be held on Sunday, April 4, 2027.
All proceeds from the row will be donated to the suicide prevention and awareness programs and services at Alexander JFS and the Montrose Center and one other non-profit organization (to be determined).
Poppy’s Run for Life is recognized as a 501(c) 3 charity by the IRS.