The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk logo
1 Mile5K

The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk 2026

Date
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Start time
10:00 AM start (Detroit)
Entry fee
From $10
Included with entry
Includes a hat
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
5k Run/Walk5KOct 4, 202610:00 AM$20–
5k Run/Walk - Huron Student/Staff5KOct 4, 202610:00 AM$10–
Mile (Untimed)1 MileOct 4, 202610:00 AM$10–

Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • 5k Run/Walk: $20 until Oct 4.
  • 5k Run/Walk - Huron Student/Staff and Mile (Untimed): $10 until Oct 4.

Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Michigan, which costs $30 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 5K in Ann Arbor runs 37:04, about 11:56 a mile, based on 18 races with published results. Women typically finish in 39:14 and men in 33:54.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:33 AM, and the 5k Run/Walk starts at 10:00 AM. The start sits about 980 feet above sea level.

Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.

Start location and course

Ann Arbor Huron HS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.

5k Run/Walk

26
finishers
31:24
median (10:08 /mi)
18:19
winning time
38% / 62%
women / men
median 31:2419:4850:35
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

5k Run/Walk - Huron Student/Staff

8
finishers
27:17
median (8:48 /mi)
19:12
winning time
63% / 37%
women / men

Mile (Untimed)

4
finishers
27:50
median (27:50 /mi)
23:42
winning time
50% / 50%
women / men

Aggregated from official results for The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk?

At the 2025 5k Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 24:58 or better, the top quarter in 25:57, and half the field in 31:24; the last tenth came in after 49:57.

At the 2025 5k Run/Walk - Huron Student/Staff, the fastest tenth finished in 20:41 or better, the top quarter in 21:53, and half the field in 27:17; the last tenth came in after 38:15.

At the 2025 Mile (Untimed), the fastest tenth finished in 23:42 or better, the top quarter in 23:43, and half the field in 27:50; the last tenth came in after 32:14.

Third place by age group, 2025 5k Run/Walk
AgeWomenMen
50-59n/a26:34

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 36 percent since 2023.

All events combined, from official results.

The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk 5K year by year

From 2023 to 2025, the field went from 53 to 26 finishers, and the median time dropped from 47:59 to 31:24.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
202526 (-65%)31:24under 24:5818:19
202474 (+40%)30:03under 21:5016:41
20235347:59under 27:0520:08

From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.

How fast is it?

Faster than most Michigan 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2024 5K field finished under 24:16, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 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 4 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 70°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% 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.

From the race's page

What the organizers of The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk cover on their registration page, in brief.

Parking and travel

5k Course Directions

Course starts and finishes under Huron's iconic Arch! Link to course map. The course is not USATF Certified. Start under the arch, head east out school driveway. Turn right at east end of stadium and follow school drive 'around the…

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
Ann Arbor Huron HS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 980 feet
Included with entry
Beanie, Water Bottle or String Sack
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
1 Mile, 5K
Editions
2026 (Oct 4, 2026), 2025 (Oct 19, 2025), 2024 (May 19, 2024), 2023 (Apr 30, 2023)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is The Rat Race 5k Run/Walk?
Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $10 before processing fees.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Oct 4, 2026, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for Michigan?
At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Michigan, which costs $30 right now.
Do runners get a shirt or medal?
Entry includes a hat, 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, 26 runners finished the 5k Run/Walk; the median finish was 31:24 and the winner ran 18:19.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2024 5K field finished under 24:16, against 28:36 in a typical Michigan 5K, so times here run 15 percent faster.
Where does it start?
Ann Arbor Huron HS, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

From the organizers

The 4th Rat Race, hosted by the Huron Booster Club, is an annual fundraiser to support all sports offered at Huron! Home of the River Rats, Huron is a comprehensive high school in the Ann Arbor School District, with a student population of nearly 1900 students. It has one of the largest populations of Schools of Choice students and low-income students in Washtenaw County.

Why is hosting important? Research shows that high schoolers who participate in sports manage stress better, feel a stronger sense of community, and are at low risk of engaging in risky behaviors. We want to make interscholastic athletics accessible to all students.

Read the full description on RunSignup