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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers Big Chill 5K | 5K | Dec 12, 202610:00 AM | $30 | 3,250 |
| Rutgers Virtual Big Chill 5KVirtual | 5K | Dec 12, 2026 | $10 | 300 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Online registration closes Dec 12, 2026, unless the race fills first.
At $30, entry is about 14 percent below a typical 5K in New Jersey, which costs $35 right now.
A typical finisher at a 5K in New Brunswick runs 33:55, about 10:55 a mile, based on 5 races with published results. Women typically finish in 38:16 and men in 30:28.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:11 AM, and the Rutgers Big Chill 5K starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 90 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
130 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results (CompuScore) for Rutgers Big Chill 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 23:58 or better, the top quarter in 28:02, and half the field in 33:55; the last tenth came in after 56:45.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 21:22 | 17:29 |
| 20-29 | 20:39 | 17:29 |
| 30-39 | 21:28 | 17:55 |
| 40-49 | 24:41 | 19:14 |
| 50-59 | 24:44 | 19:23 |
| 60-69 | 26:11 | 22:37 |
| 70+ | 52:37 | 31:37 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Up 47 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 1,815 to 2,677 finishers, and the median time dropped from 34:31 to 33:55.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,677 (+9%) | 33:55 | under 23:58 | 16:24 |
| 2024 | 2,453 (-4%) | 33:58 | under 24:17 | 16:19 |
| 2023 | 2,559 (+43%) | 33:57 | under 24:05 | 16:12 |
| 2022 | 1,790 (-1%) | 35:38 | under 24:49 | 15:49 |
| 2021 | 1,815 | 34:31 | under 23:51 | 16:34 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
Slower than most New Jersey 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:02, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here run 3 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.
Around December 12 the day usually runs from 30°F at dawn to 44°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 27% of days. Cold snaps dip to 23°F and hot years reach 58°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.
What the organizers of Rutgers Big Chill 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Runner Check-In. Check-in will be at the College Avenue Gym (130 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ) where you’ll pick up your race bib and long-sleeve t-shirt, and drop off your toy donation. Check-In Times: Friday, December 11, 2025: 2:00…
Course
Click map to enlarge.
Awards
The prizes, courtesy of Rutgers Athletics, are for the following categories: Overall Winners. Overall Male. Overall Female. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded in each age category for males and females: 13 & under. 14-17. 18-21…
Awards
VIRTUAL RACE PARTICIPANTS. HOW TO SUBMIT RESULTS. -Log into runsignup.com account. -Click on person icon on the upper right hand side. -Click on profile. -Look at upcoming events. -On the right hand side is a button “Submit Virtual…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
The Rutgers Big Chill 5k is a charitable event that has served the Rutgers University-New Brunswick, NJ community since 2003. Similarly to last year, we will offer both an in-person and virtual race. Our in-person race will occur on December 12 at 10 am, with runner check-in taking place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The Rutgers Big Chill has been a staple within the Rutgers University-New Brunswick Community for over 20 years and is enjoyed by thousands of runners yearly. We aim to continue the Big Chill tradition while giving back to the community and keeping participants active and motivated.
In-Person Race
December 12, 2026 | College Avenue Gym | 10am start | Rain or Shine