Sea Turtle Race: Cold Stun Run 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- West Orange, New Jersey
- Entry fee
- From $35
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5k Run | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $35 | – |
| Family Fun Walk | Other | Oct 10, 20268:35 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 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 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 West Orange runs 33:04, about 10:39 a mile, based on 9 races with published results. Women typically finish in 36:24 and men in 30:07.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:01 AM, and the 5k Run starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 490 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Essex County Park, West Orange, NJ 07052
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 (5 years)Aggregated from official results (CompuScore) for Sea Turtle Race: Cold Stun Run. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Sea Turtle Race: Cold Stun Run?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 22:26 or better, the top quarter in 27:17, and half the field in 31:38; the last tenth came in after 46:21.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 33:25 | 28:27 |
| 20-29 | 27:58 | 22:13 |
| 30-39 | 32:10 | 22:34 |
| 40-49 | 29:01 | 27:18 |
| 50-59 | 32:11 | 26:43 |
| 60-69 | 33:04 | 28:36 |
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 84 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Sea Turtle Race: Cold Stun Run 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 61 to 112 finishers, and the median time rose from 30:50 to 31:38.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 112 (-26%) | 31:38 | under 22:26 | 17:35 |
| 2024 | 151 (+76%) | 31:56 | under 24:25 | 17:40 |
| 2023 | 86 (-30%) | 30:47 | under 23:16 | 18:51 |
| 2022 | 123 (+102%) | 31:13 | under 23:43 | 20:50 |
| 2021 | 61 | 30:50 | under 25:21 | 20:28 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for New Jersey 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:17, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 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 October 10 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 69°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 21% of days. Cold snaps dip to 44°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
- Essex County Park, West Orange, NJ 07052Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 490 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, Other
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 4, 2025), 2024 (Oct 5, 2024), 2023 (Oct 7, 2023), 2022 (Oct 8, 2022), 2021 (Oct 2, 2021)
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Quick answers
- When is Sea Turtle Race: Cold Stun Run?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 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?
- 5K, Other.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 112 runners finished the 5k Run; the median finish was 31:38 and the winner ran 17:35.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:17, against 27:09 in a typical New Jersey 5K, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Essex County Park, West Orange, NJ 07052.
From the organizers
Information: The Eighth Annual Sea Turtle Race will take place on at the scenic Orange Reservoir in West Orange. This race is nicknamed the “Cold Stun Run” to highlight our busiest time of year that usually starts in November and December. During this time of year our hospital will fill with sick sea turtles that are cold stunned from failing to migrate south before temperatures become too cold. The 5k race will start at 8:30 am. The 1.7 mile Family Fun Walk starts at 8:35 am. Refreshments will be available after the race at Clipper Pavilion. Discounted admission to the Turtle Back Zoo will be available to participants that present their race id at the zoo admission ticket booth.