Schedule and packet pickup
Timeline of Events
9:00 AM - Registration & Bib Pick-Up. 10:15 AM - National Anthem & Pep Rally. 11:00 AM - Start Time: 5k Run/Ruck. Family Walk. 11:30 AM - Lunch & Live Music. 12:15 PM - Race Awards.
Vet Fest 2027
- Date
- Saturday, September 25, 2027
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Middletown, Delaware
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $35 on Aug 30, 2027
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vet Fest - 5K | 5K | Sep 25, 20279:00 AM | $30$35 after Aug 30, 2027 | – |
| Vet Fest - 5K Ruck | 5K | Sep 25, 20279:00 AM | $30$35 after Aug 30, 2027 | – |
| Vet Fest - Family Fun Walk (1mile, untimed) | 1 Mile | Sep 25, 20279:00 AM | $30$35 after Aug 30, 2027 | – |
| Vet Fest - Motorcycle Ride | Bike Ride | Sep 25, 20279:00 AM | $30$35 after Aug 30, 2027 | – |
| Vet Fest - VirtualVirtual | 5K | Sep 25, 20279:00 AM | $30$35 after Aug 30, 2027 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Vet Fest - 5K and Vet Fest - 5K Ruck and Vet Fest - Family Fun Walk (1mile, untimed): $30 until Aug 29, then $35 until Sep 19, then $40 until Sep 24, then $50 until Sep 25.
- Vet Fest - Motorcycle Ride: $30 until Aug 29, then $35 until Sep 19, then $40 until Sep 24.
Online registration closes Sep 25, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:51 AM, and the Vet Fest - Motorcycle Ride starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 50 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
801 Mapleton Ave., Middletown, DE 19709
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
Course profile: how hilly is Vet Fest 2027?
The 3.1-mile run course climbs 85 feet, about 27 feet a mile: rolling.
| Course | Distance | Climbing | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 mi Running Route in Middletown, DelawareRun | 3.1 mi | 85 ft | rolling |
From the course maps the organizers publish on Ride with GPS and MapMyRun; climbing is the total gain the map reports. Courses can change between editions, so check the date on the map.
2024 results
All resultsVet Fest - 5K Run
196
finishers
32:13
median (10:22 /mi)
17:43
winning time
46% / 54%
women / men
Vet Fest - 10K RUCK
114
finishers
1:36:19
median (15:30 /mi)
48:08
winning time
25% / 75%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Fusion Race Timing) for Vet Fest 2027. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Vet Fest 2027?
At the 2024 Vet Fest - 5K Run, the fastest tenth finished in 23:58 or better, the top quarter in 27:23, and half the field in 32:13; the last tenth came in after 1:01:41.
At the 2024 Vet Fest - 10K RUCK, the fastest tenth finished in 1:09:27 or better, the top quarter in 1:22:50, and half the field in 1:36:19; the last tenth came in after 2:00:19.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 27:09 | 21:12 |
| 20-29 | 29:33 | 21:31 |
| 30-39 | 24:48 | 23:02 |
| 40-49 | 28:18 | 23:59 |
| 50-59 | 29:02 | 27:03 |
| 60-69 | 34:49 | n/a |
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 2024.
How fast is it?
Faster than most US 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2024 5K field finished under 27:23, against 28:51 in a typical US 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- 10K: Slower than most US 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2024 10K field finished under 1:22:50, against 54:18 in a typical US 10K, so times here run 53 percent slower.
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 September 25 the day usually runs from 61°F at dawn to 76°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 26% of days. Cold snaps dip to 52°F and hot years reach 82°F.
Based on 76 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 Vet Fest 2027 cover on their registration page, in brief.
Course
Course Maps
5K Run/Ruck/Walk. *Maps are for directional purposes only.
Parking and travel
Event Address & Parking Info
Address. 801 Mapleton Ave, Middletown, DE 19709. Parking. Vet Fest volunteers will direct you to event parking when you arrive.
Awards
Age Groups and Awards
5K Awards. Overall Male/Female. Overall Masters Male/Female. Top 3 in each age group Male/Female. 13 and Under, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39,40-49,50-59,60-69, 70+. 5K Ruck Awards. Top 5 Overall Males. Top 5 Overall Females.
Race details
- Where
- 801 Mapleton Ave., Middletown, DE 19709Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 50 feet
- Results posted by the race
- Results
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Bike Ride, 1 Mile, 5K
- Editions
- 2027 (Sep 25, 2027), 2026 (Sep 26, 2026), 2025 (Sep 27, 2025), 2024 (Sep 28, 2024), 2022 (Sep 24, 2022), 2021 (Sep 1, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Quick answers
- When is Vet Fest 2027?
- Saturday, September 25, 2027, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $35 on Aug 30, 2027.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Sep 25, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Do athletes 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 are offered?
- Bike Ride, 1 Mile, 5K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2024, 196 athletes finished the Vet Fest - 5K Run; the median finish was 32:13 and the winner finished in 17:43.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2024 5K field finished under 27:23, against 28:51 in a typical US 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 801 Mapleton Ave., Middletown, DE 19709.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Vet Fest 2027
Run. Ruck. Walk. Ride.
Vet Fest provides an annual uplifting opportunity for the military and civilian communities to stand together against military and veteran suicide. Focusing on physical fitness, participants are invited to run, ruck, ride, roll or walk their way through their community.
Honoring the founding location of Vet Fest, Whitehall Delaware will still host the annual event with participants from around the country invited to join in nationally where they are. Virtual runs and rides will take place all weekend long - banning together as a nation to benefit Stop Soldier Suicide’s efforts to reduce the epidemic of military suicide.