The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation banner
The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation logo

The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation 2027

Date
Sunday, January 3, 2027
Start time
9:00 AM start (Los Angeles)
Entry fee
From $51
Fundraising
Takes optional donations when you register
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Official race website

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Events and entry fees

EventDistanceWhenEntry feeCap
10K Run10KJan 3, 20279:00 AM$51–
5K Run/Walk5KJan 3, 20279:00 AM$51–
10K Virtual RunVirtual10KJan 3, 20279:00 AM$45–
5K Virtual Run/WalkVirtual5KJan 3, 20279:00 AM$45–

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

Race day planning

Entry fee schedule

  • $51 until Jan 2.

Online registration closes Jan 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.

How the price compares

At $51, entry is about 19 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.

What a typical finish looks like

A typical finisher at a 10K in California runs 1:05:18, about 10:31 a mile, based on 285 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:09:57 and men in 59:47.

Light and altitude

Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:09 AM, and the 10K Run starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 2,020 feet above sea level.

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

Start location and course

Santa Margarita Lake, Santa Margarita, CA 93453

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

162
finishers
39:11
median (12:37 /mi)
16:28
winning time
64% / 36%
women / men
median 39:1119:491:10:25
Finish times, fastest to slowest. Each bar is a slice of the field; the dashed line is the median.

10K Run

84
finishers
1:05:21
median (10:31 /mi)
39:08
winning time
46% / 54%
women / men

Aggregated from official results for The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation. Individual finisher names are not stored here.

How fast do you need to be at The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation?

At the 2026 5K Run/Walk, the fastest tenth finished in 23:42 or better, the top quarter in 30:23, and half the field in 39:11; the last tenth came in after 1:02:59.

At the 2026 10K Run, the fastest tenth finished in 46:04 or better, the top quarter in 52:57, and half the field in 1:05:21; the last tenth came in after 1:25:58.

Third place by age group, 2026 5K Run/Walk
AgeWomenMen
Under 2025:3420:42
20-2932:16n/a
30-3930:1923:06
40-4930:1331:11
50-5939:1125:51
60-6932:1932:42
70+48:4943:16

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 2026.

Finishers by year

Down 31 percent since 2024.

All events combined, from official results.

The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation 5K year by year

From 2024 to 2026, the field went from 254 to 162 finishers, and the median time dropped from 42:08 to 39:11.

YearFinishersMedianFastest tenthWinner
2026162 (-37%)39:11under 23:4216:28
2025257 (+1%)39:44under 27:0118:11
202425442:08under 26:3217:11

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

How fast is it?

About average for California 5Ks

The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 30:23, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here are about average.

  • 10K: Faster than most California 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2026 10K field finished under 52:57, against 56:15 in a typical California 10K, so times here run 6 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 January 3 the day usually runs from 41°F at dawn to 56°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 24% of days. Cold snaps dip to 35°F and hot years reach 64°F.

Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 6 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.

From the race's page

What the organizers of The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation cover on their registration page, in brief.

Schedule and packet pickup

Packet Pickup Information

Packet Pick-up will be at Springhill Suites in Atascadero on January 2, 2027 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will also have race-day registration and packet pickup. Please note, though--there is very limited cell service at the race site…

Awards

Awards

Special awards to the first three overall runners. Age group awards for the first finisher of each age division: U12, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+. Participant special coasters to all finishers.

Full details on the race's RunSignup page

Race details

Where
Santa Margarita Lake, Santa Margarita, CA 93453Map
Course
Road
Start elevation
About 2,020 feet
Included with entry
Custom Swag Package
Donations
Accepted when you register
Distances
5K, 10K
Editions
2027 (Jan 3, 2027), 2026 (Jan 4, 2026), 2025 (Jan 5, 2025), 2024 (Jan 7, 2024), 2023 (Jan 8, 2023), 2022 (Jan 2, 2022)

Organize this race? Add details or a correction

Plan your race

Quick answers

When is The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Fun Run & Walk - Fundraiser for Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation?
Sunday, January 3, 2027, starting at 9:00 AM.
How much does it cost?
Entry starts at $51 before processing fees.
When does registration close?
Online registration closes Jan 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Is the entry fee high for California?
At $51, entry is about 19 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.
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, 10K.
How big is it, and how fast?
In 2026, 162 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk; the median finish was 39:11 and the winner ran 16:28.
Is it a fast course?
The fastest quarter of the 2026 5K field finished under 30:23, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here are about average.
Where does it start?
Santa Margarita Lake, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

From the organizers

Please join us on January 3, 2027 for The Running Chicken 2027 10K/5K Run and Walk. Please note--the race entry fee includes the cost of entry to Santa Margarita Lake Park.

Please also note—if you register for one race and want to switch to the other, you MUST contact the timing official at [email protected] before the race starts.

For those who are running the race in-person, bibs MUST be picked up either on January 2 at Springhill Suites, or prior to the race on January 3. Bibs will not be shipped. Registrations after December 26 with the “shipping” option for swag will ship after January 3.