Run for JOY 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Columbia, Kentucky
- Entry fee
- From $20
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run For JOY | 5K | Oct 10, 20267:00 AM | $20 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $20 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Kentucky, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Kentucky runs 35:51, about 11:32 a mile, based on 299 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:30 and men in 31:06.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:43 AM, and the Run For JOY starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 750 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
803 Burkesville St, Columbia, KY 42728
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 (2 years)Aggregated from official results for Run for JOY. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Run for JOY?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 21:50 or better, the top quarter in 24:38, and half the field in 28:46; the last tenth came in after 48:18.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 26:59 | 20:10 |
| 20-29 | 27:07 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 28:15 | n/a |
| 40-49 | 31:57 | 26:55 |
| 50-59 | 27:48 | n/a |
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
Down 10 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
Run for JOY 5K year by year
From 2024 to 2025, the field went from 82 to 74 finishers, and the median time dropped from 32:18 to 28:46.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74 (-10%) | 28:46 | under 21:50 | 19:30 |
| 2024 | 82 | 32:18 | under 21:13 | 18:31 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Kentucky 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 24:38, against 29:01 in a typical Kentucky 5K, so times here run 15 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 10 the day usually runs from 52°F at dawn to 73°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 41°F and hot years reach 80°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
- 803 Burkesville St, Columbia, KY 42728Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 750 feet
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 11, 2025), 2024 (Oct 12, 2024), 2023 (Oct 14, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Run for JOY?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $20 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Kentucky?
- At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Kentucky, which costs $30 right now.
- 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 2025, 74 runners finished the Run For JOY; the median finish was 28:46 and the winner ran 19:30.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 24:38, against 29:01 in a typical Kentucky 5K, so times here run 15 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 803 Burkesville St, Columbia, KY 42728.
From the organizers
Annual Downtown Days Run for Joy, a 5k race/walk to benefit Joy Ministries hosted by Columbia Pharmacy.