NJROTC Fleet Feet John Paul Jones (JPJ) 5K

NJROTC Fleet Feet John Paul Jones (JPJ) 5K is run in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 3, 2027, with a single 5K (3.1 miles) starting at 8:00 a.m. The race is tied to a local NJROTC program, and the one-distance format keeps the schedule straightforward: one gun, one finish line, everyone done inside the hour.

Community 5Ks with a school or service connection tend to draw a mixed field of students, families, and regular road racers, so expect a range of paces and position yourself accordingly at the 8:00 a.m. start. As a target, the distance suits a first race, a comeback after time off, or a spring speed check between longer efforts. Preparation is modest: run three or four times a week, add one workout of 400 or 800 meter repeats, and treat the last mile as the part worth training for, because that is where a 5K is won or lost.