The OC Fair Run 5k is one of my favorite races of the summer. You get to run through the Orange County Fair. Now, just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s fast, and it has a ton of sharp turns going around fair games, fair rides, and even barn animals.
This year, I got a mild upper respiratory illness about a week before. While it didn’t really “take me out,” I did deal with the lingering effects of congestion. I’m not someone who really bounces back quickly from congestion. Over the past week, running has felt hard. In fact, I did a base swim-run on Thursday and could barely run 7:30 pace. I figured if I ran under 7 at the OC Fair Run 5k, it would be a good day.
It’s hard because I’ve now run the OC Fair Run 5k in 2024 and 2023. Both years have gone well, and I’ve gotten third both years. It’s always hard to go back to a race you’ve done well in and do mediocre. Was I ready to do that? Would I rather skip it? Ultimately I decided to drive down there. My decision partly came from the fact that I missed my deadline for free cancellation on my hotel. So down I went. I tried to limit my expectations, but that is always hard.
Before the OC Fair Run 5k:
There were a few reasons that it just wasn’t my week, the week before.
A. I got sick and was still dealing with congestion.
B. I started my period.
C. I slept like absolute trash for that week as well.
Luckily, the night before was really low key, and I ultimately got about 11 hours of sleep, so that was a plus. I woke up feeling okay. Neither amazing nor terrible, but still congested. I got to the OC Fair Run 5k around 7 am, picked up my bib, and did a 30-minute warmup. During the warmup, I felt decent. My A “dream goal” became beat my 20:32 from last year, and my B goal was to run faster than 7-minute pace. My C goal was to finish healthy.
OC Fair Run 5k Race:
The OC Fair Run 5k race went off right at 8 am. The first mile is the fastest and has minimal turns. I found myself in third woman overall until around half a mile in when I became second woman. I was scared to look at my watch, so I didn’t. I crossed mile 1 of the OC Fair Run 5k in 6:04. Excuse me, what? The effort felt hard, but it didn’t feel like the craziest thing ever, and it’s the fastest I’ve taken a 5k out in a very long time. It’s also 15 seconds faster than I took it out in previous years.
I knew miles 2–3 of the OC Fair Run 5k were much harder just due to all the turns, but I tried not to let that affect me. I just powered through. I could feel my breathing getting harder, mainly due to the congestion. I was surprised I was in second, and I really didn’t want to let a podium place go, nor did I want to wreck myself and have to jog it in. Is there anything worse than taking it out too fast in a 5k and having to jog it in?
Anyway, I hit mile 2 of the OC Fair Run 5k in 6:18 and was happy. I saw the third place woman behind me, and she was definitely gaining on me. I just focused on the end. New in 2025 was a 1.1-mile walk, which I enjoy that they have for younger kids, but it also meant we joined them during the third mile, and it was kind of a mess. We couldn’t see in front due to the turns, and many were walking 2–3 across. It meant it was chaotic and dangerous.
As we headed out of the OC Fair and made our way to the finish, the third place woman passed me. I didn’t have the leg speed (or the breathing to match her pace), and she outkicked me by about 2 seconds. I was happy I was still able to podium and maintain my tradition of third place. I crossed the OC Fair Run 5k in 19:48 and over 40 seconds faster than previous years.
OC Fair Run 5k Thoughts:
If I were to imagine my “best” day at the OC Fair Run 5k, it wouldn’t have been a sub-20 with my breathing. I was ecstatic, although it makes me want to race a 5k when I feel great and see what I can do. I do believe I’m in 19:10–19:20 shape on the right day… it’s just having the right day and the right course.
You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.
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Questions for you:
What’s the most fun 5k you’ve run?
Have you been to a fair before?