Prediction Runs 2026
- Date
- 3 race dates, October 11 to December 13, 2026
- Start time
- 3:00 PM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Southern, Illinois
- Entry fee
- From Free
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Oct 11, 2026 | ||||
| October Prediction Run | – | Oct 11, 20263:00 PM | Free | – |
| Sunday, Nov 1, 2026 | ||||
| November Prediction Run | – | Nov 1, 20263:00 PM | Free | – |
| Sunday, Dec 13, 2026 | ||||
| December Prediction Run | – | Dec 13, 20263:00 PM | 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
- October Prediction Run: Free until Oct 11.
- November Prediction Run: Free until Nov 1.
- December Prediction Run: Free until Dec 13.
Online registration closes Dec 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:59 AM, and the October Prediction Run starts at 3:00 PM. The start sits about 400 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Various, Southern, IL 62948
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 (6 years)March Prediction Run
February Prediction Run
April Prediction Run
Aggregated from official results for Prediction Runs. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Prediction Runs?
At the 2026 March Prediction Run, the fastest tenth finished in 0:23 or better, the top quarter in 0:36, and half the field in 1:12; the last tenth came in after 24:35.
At the 2026 February Prediction Run, the fastest tenth finished in 0:17 or better, the top quarter in 0:45, and half the field in 1:20; the last tenth came in after 2:15.
At the 2026 April Prediction Run, the fastest tenth finished in 0:10 or better, the top quarter in 0:32, and half the field in 1:02; the last tenth came in after 7:51.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Finishers by year
Up 152 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Prediction Runs Other year by year
From 2021 to 2026, the field went from 14 to 15 finishers, and the median time dropped from 22:59 to 1:12.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 (same) | 1:12 | under 0:23 | 0:17 |
| 2025 | 15 (-29%) | 2:28 | under 1:48 | 1:13 |
| 2024 | 21 (+31%) | 1:19 | under 0:24 | 0:12 |
| 2023 | 16 (+45%) | 19:19 | under 14:34 | 13:05 |
| 2022 | 11 (-21%) | 39:32 | under 26:15 | 25:35 |
| 2021 | 14 | 22:59 | under 19:45 | 19:22 |
From each year's official results for the Other; virtual options are left out.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 11 the day usually runs from 53°F at dawn to 76°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 12% of days. Cold snaps dip to 45°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
- Various, Southern, IL 62948Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 400 feet
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- See events
- Editions
- 2026 (Jan 11, 2026), 2025 (Jan 12, 2025), 2024 (Jan 7, 2024), 2023 (Jan 8, 2023), 2022 (Jan 9, 2022), 2021 (Jan 10, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Prediction Runs?
- It runs on 3 dates from October 11 to December 13, 2026. The next is Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 13, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- 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?
- See the event list above.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2026, 15 runners finished the March Prediction Run; the median finish was 1:12 and the winner ran 0:17.
- Where does it start?
- Various, Southern, IL 62948.
From the organizers
River to River Runners - Prediction Runs
What is a Prediction Run?
A prediction run is entirely different from other races that you’ve run in the past. Rather than finishing first or running the fastest, the object of a prediction run is to finish as close to your predicted time as possible.
Can I use any sort of electronic device (i.e. watch, heart rate monitor, sundial, car, etc)?
No, that would make it much too easy.
No watches allowed!
How long is the course?
You won’t find out till you get there! Usually between 2.5 miles and 4.5 miles.
How much does it cost?
$1….Probably the cheapest race you will ever run.
How do I get involved?