Course
Course Map
The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Start time
- 8:30 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Bardstown, Kentucky
- Entry fee
- From $20
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Spirit 5K | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $20$25 after Sep 27, 2026 | – |
| The Spirit 5K VIRTUAL RUNVirtual | 5K | Oct 10, 20268:30 AM | $20$25 after Sep 27, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $25 until Oct 10.
Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Kentucky, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Bardstown runs 32:47, about 10:33 a mile, based on 4 races with published results. Women typically finish in 36:32 and men in 28:18.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:44 AM, and the The Spirit 5K starts at 8:30 AM. The start sits about 600 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Nelson County Civic Center, Bardstown, KY 40004
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)140
finishers
33:58
median (10:56 /mi)
17:45
winning time
51% / 49%
women / men
Aggregated from official results for The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 22:53 or better, the top quarter in 27:06, and half the field in 33:58; the last tenth came in after 55:05.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 26:34 | 22:33 |
| 20-29 | 33:49 | 20:31 |
| 30-39 | 31:17 | 23:39 |
| 40-49 | 27:37 | 25:03 |
| 50-59 | 33:03 | 29:21 |
| 60-69 | 49:11 | 33:32 |
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 100 percent since 2021.
70
2021
63
2022
104
2023
95
2024
140
2025
All events combined, from official results.
The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 70 to 140 finishers, and the median time rose from 30:30 to 33:58.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 140 (+47%) | 33:58 | under 22:53 | 17:45 |
| 2024 | 95 (-9%) | 34:35 | under 24:35 | 17:56 |
| 2023 | 104 (+65%) | 32:48 | under 23:45 | 19:05 |
| 2022 | 63 (-10%) | 32:55 | under 24:13 | 21:32 |
| 2021 | 70 | 30:30 | under 23:58 | 19:23 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Kentucky 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:06, against 29:01 in a typical Kentucky 5K, so times here run 7 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 10 the day usually runs from 51°F at dawn to 74°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 15% of days. Cold snaps dip to 43°F and hot years reach 82°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 Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K cover on their registration page, in brief.
Race details
- Where
- Nelson County Civic Center, Bardstown, KY 40004Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 600 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 10, 2026), 2025 (Oct 11, 2025), 2024 (Oct 12, 2024), 2023 (Oct 7, 2023), 2022 (Oct 8, 2022), 2021 (Oct 9, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K?
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $20 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 10, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Kentucky?
- At $20, entry is about 33 percent below a typical 5K in Kentucky, which costs $30 right now.
- 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.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 140 runners finished the The Spirit 5K; the median finish was 33:58 and the winner ran 17:45.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 27:06, against 29:01 in a typical Kentucky 5K, so times here run 7 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- Nelson County Civic Center, Bardstown, KY 40004.
From the organizers
Join us for the 2026 Spirit 5K in Bardstown on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Race time is 8:30am EDT.
The Tri-County Kentucky United Way Spirit 5K is a certified course that winds its way through Bardstown, Kentucky. All event proceeds benefit the United Way, which helps to improve the quality of life by supporting local health and human service programs and addressing local issues in Marion, Nelson, and Washington counties.
Heaven Hill Brands will be providing door prizes and a reception for all participants.
Registration
$20 per individual, $16 per group of 20 or more, $50 per family of 4 (must be from the same household).
Register by September 20th for the guaranteed race t-shirt.