Run for the Animals 2026
- Date
- Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Bridgeton, New Jersey
- Entry fee
- From $35
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mile Walk | 1 Mile | Oct 11, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| 5K Run | 5K | Oct 11, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $35 until Oct 11.
Online registration closes Oct 11, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in New Jersey ($35).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in New Jersey runs 32:16, about 10:23 a mile, based on 598 races with published results. Women typically finish in 35:02 and men in 29:30.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:05 AM, and the 1 Mile Walk starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 100 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
35 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
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 (3 years)Aggregated from official results (JLD Event Management and Timing) for Run for the Animals. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Run for the Animals?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:36 or better, the top quarter in 28:15, and half the field in 33:27; the last tenth came in after 45:39.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 32:49 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 28:26 | 23:29 |
| 40-49 | 36:25 | n/a |
| 50-59 | 33:03 | 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
Up 74 percent since 2023.
All events combined, from official results.
Run for the Animals 5K year by year
From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 38 to 66 finishers, and the median time rose from 31:23 to 33:27.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 66 (+38%) | 33:27 | under 23:36 | 20:07 |
| 2024 | 48 (+26%) | 30:47 | under 22:12 | 17:15 |
| 2023 | 38 | 31:23 | under 22:50 | 19:43 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most New Jersey 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:15, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here run 4 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.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 11 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 69°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 44°F and hot years reach 79°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
- 35 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton, NJ 08302Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 100 feet
- Included with entry
- Race T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 11, 2026), 2025 (Sep 27, 2025), 2024 (Sep 28, 2024), 2023 (Sep 30, 2023)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Run for the Animals?
- Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 11, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for New Jersey?
- At $35, entry is about the same as a typical 5K in New Jersey ($35).
- 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?
- 1 Mile, 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 66 runners finished the 5K Run; the median finish was 33:27 and the winner ran 20:07.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:15, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here run 4 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 35 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton, NJ 08302.
From the organizers
**********
We would like to let everyone know that the Run for the Animals 5K benefiting the Cohanzick Zoo, originally scheduled for this Saturday, September 26, has been postponed due to the forecasted nor’easter.
Out of an abundance of caution for everyone involved, the race has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 11.
The race will still begin at 9:00 AM.
Thank you so much for your understanding and flexibility. We look forward to seeing everyone on October 11! If anything changes we will reach out.
**********
Run for the Animals is a fun, family friendly event to benefit the Cohanzick Zoo.