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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K Run | 10K | Jan 3, 20279:00 AM | $51 | – |
| 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Jan 3, 20279:00 AM | $51 | – |
| 10K Virtual RunVirtual | 10K | Jan 3, 20279:00 AM | $45 | – |
| 5K Virtual Run/WalkVirtual | 5K | Jan 3, 20279:00 AM | $45 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Online registration closes Jan 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.
At $51, entry is about 19 percent above a typical 10K in California, which costs $42.99 right now.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 25:34 | 20:42 |
| 20-29 | 32:16 | n/a |
| 30-39 | 30:19 | 23:06 |
| 40-49 | 30:13 | 31:11 |
| 50-59 | 39:11 | 25:51 |
| 60-69 | 32:19 | 32:42 |
| 70+ | 48:49 | 43:16 |
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 2026.
Down 31 percent since 2024.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2024 to 2026, the field went from 254 to 162 finishers, and the median time dropped from 42:08 to 39:11.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 162 (-37%) | 39:11 | under 23:42 | 16:28 |
| 2025 | 257 (+1%) | 39:44 | under 27:01 | 18:11 |
| 2024 | 254 | 42:08 | under 26:32 | 17:11 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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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.