Race for the Red 5K 2027

Date: Saturday, May 22, 2027
Start time: 9:30 AM start (Detroit)
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Entry fee: From $40 · goes up to $45 on Dec 1, 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 website

Add to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google

Events and entry fees

Event	Distance	When	Entry fee	Cap
Race for the Red 5K	5K	May 22, 20279:30 AM	$40$45 after Dec 1, 2026	–
Race for the Red Turnout Challenge	5K	May 22, 20279:30 AM	$40$45 after Dec 1, 2026	–
Race for the Red 5K Virtual EventVirtual	5K	May 22, 20271:00 AM	$40$45 after Dec 1, 2026	–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

The 5K fee goes up to $45 on Dec 1, 2026.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

$40 until Dec 1, then $45 until Feb 1, then $50 until Apr 15, then $55 until May 21.

Online registration closes May 21, 2027, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Michigan, which costs $30 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in Grand Rapids runs 33:20, about 10:44 a mile, based on 33 races with published results. Women typically finish in 36:02 and men in 30:22.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:13 AM, and the Race for the Red 5K starts at 9:30 AM. The start sits about 740 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

2001 Monroe Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Directions to the start

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

Race for the Red 5K

221

finishers

34:20

median (11:03 /mi)

19:11

winning time

59% / 41%

women / men

Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

Race for the Red Turnout Challenge

finishers

33:11

median (10:41 /mi)

25:43

winning time

16% / 84%

women / men

Aggregated from official results for Race for the Red 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at Race for the Red 5K?

At the 2026 Race for the Red 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:08 or better, the top quarter in 29:01, and half the field in 34:20; the last tenth came in after 56:56.

At the 2026 Race for the Red Turnout Challenge, the fastest tenth finished in 26:48 or better, the top quarter in 29:31, and half the field in 33:11; the last tenth came in after 45:13.

Third place by age group, 2026 Race for the Red 5K
Age	Women	Men
Under 20	32:42	22:06
20-29	25:11	21:49
30-39	28:53	22:08
40-49	27:43	29:26
50-59	29:42	28:50
60-69	45:35	28:23
70+	47:53	32:16

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.

EventFinish timeGenderAge group

How fast is it?

About average for Michigan 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 29:01, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, 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 May 22 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 73°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 18% of days. Cold snaps dip to 42°F and hot years reach 84°F.

Based on 85 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: 2001 Monroe Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505Map
Course: Road
Start elevation: About 740 feet
Included with entry: T-Shirt
Donations: Accepted when you register
Distances: 5K
Editions: 2027 (May 22, 2027), 2026 (May 23, 2026)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is Race for the Red 5K?: Saturday, May 22, 2027, starting at 9:30 AM.
How much does it cost?: Entry starts at $40 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Dec 1, 2026.
When does registration close?: Online registration closes May 21, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Michigan?: At $40, entry is about 33 percent above a typical 5K in Michigan, which costs $30 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.
How big is it, and how fast?: In 2026, 221 runners finished the Race for the Red 5K; the median finish was 34:20 and the winner ran 19:11.
Is it a fast course?: The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 29:01, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?: 2001 Monroe Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.