Running for Water for Africa 5K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Start time
- 8:45 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Milford, Connecticut
- Entry fee
- From Free · goes up to $35 on Oct 3, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Running for Water for Africa | Kids | Oct 3, 20268:45 AM | Free | – |
| 5K Run/Walk Running for Water for Africa | 5K | Oct 3, 20269:00 AM | $30$35 after Oct 3, 2026 | – |
| One Mile Walk Running for Water for Africa | 1 Mile | Oct 3, 20269:00 AM | $30$35 after Oct 3, 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 $35 on Oct 3, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Kids Running for Water for Africa: Free until Oct 3.
- 5K Run/Walk Running for Water for Africa and One Mile Walk Running for Water for Africa: $30 until Oct 2, then $35 until Oct 3.
Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $30, entry is about 12 percent below a typical 5K in Connecticut, which costs $34 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Connecticut runs 32:01, about 10:18 a mile, based on 235 races with published results. Women typically finish in 34:53 and men in 29:10.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:49 AM, and the Kids Running for Water for Africa starts at 8:45 AM. The start sits about 20 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Walnut Beach Pavilion, Milford, CT 06460
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (4 years)Aggregated from official results (Startline Race Services) for Running for Water for Africa 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Running for Water for Africa 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:20 or better, the top quarter in 25:58, and half the field in 31:59; the last tenth came in after 49:19.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 25:28 | 22:27 |
| 30-39 | 31:42 | 25:14 |
| 40-49 | 31:32 | 22:52 |
| 50-59 | 28:33 | 23:32 |
| 60-69 | 27:41 | 26:39 |
| 70+ | 29:35 | 28:32 |
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 33 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Running for Water for Africa 5K 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 162 to 108 finishers, and the median time rose from 31:55 to 31:59.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 108 (+19%) | 31:59 | under 23:20 | 18:23 |
| 2023 | 91 (-30%) | 33:52 | under 22:31 | 18:17 |
| 2022 | 130 (-20%) | 32:02 | under 22:15 | 19:06 |
| 2021 | 162 | 31:55 | under 22:39 | 18:33 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Connecticut 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 25:58, against 27:02 in a typical Connecticut 5K, so times here run 4 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 3 the day usually runs from 54°F at dawn to 69°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 47°F and hot years reach 76°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
- Walnut Beach Pavilion, Milford, CT 06460Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 20 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K, Kids
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 3, 2026), 2025 (Oct 4, 2025), 2024 (Sep 21, 2024), 2023 (Sep 16, 2023), 2022 (Sep 24, 2022), 2021 (Sep 11, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Running for Water for Africa 5K?
- Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 8:45 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at Free before processing fees, and rises to $35 on Oct 3, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 3, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Connecticut?
- At $30, entry is about 12 percent below a typical 5K in Connecticut, which costs $34 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?
- 1 Mile, 5K, Kids.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 108 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk Running for Water for Africa; the median finish was 31:59 and the winner ran 18:23.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 25:58, against 27:02 in a typical Connecticut 5K, so times here run 4 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Walnut Beach Pavilion, Milford, CT 06460.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on Gmap Pedometer; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
We welcome you to the 15th edition of our great event which we continue to hold at the Walnut Beach Pavilion! Because the race is in October, the Fall leaves will have begun to change. It's a beautiful time of year to get out and enjoy the crisp air. And you'll be helping an amazing cause!
We're also bringing back our exciting gift certificate raffle this year that will include many local restaurants.
Our course is designed for all abilities of runners and walkers. Flat scenic roads except for one minor incline at the beginning that start and finish near the beach. You’ll be able to run fast, or easy, or walk comfortably at any pace.