Race calendar · December 2026
1,077 5K races across the US in December 2026, sorted by date. Which weekends are busiest, what the fields actually run, entry fees, and where each one starts.
1,077 5K races in December 2026
What the field actually runs
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Sep 22, 2026.
When in December
5K races do not spread evenly across December. The busiest weekend is December 5 and December 6, with 374 of them. Another 80 fall on a weekday.
By the numbers
The December 5K races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
It is one of the busier months. December carries 1,077 5K races, against 3,345 in October, which is the fullest month of the year. There is a real choice of dates here, with less competition for entries than the peak of the season.
The busiest weekend is December 5 and December 6, with 374 5K races on those two days, and the single busiest day is Saturday, December 12 with 291. Another 80 fall on a weekday, which is worth knowing if you are traveling for one.
As early as you can. 535 of these December 5K races already have a price increase on the calendar, and 1,010 are open for entry right now. Another 62 have published an opening date and have not opened yet.
The typical entry is $30, with paid entries running from $0.01 up to $500, and 19 that are free to enter. Entry fees climb as race day gets closer, so the same race is usually cheapest the week it opens.
Across the 536 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions, the median finisher ran 35:05, and the median winning time was 18:21. So anything under 35:05 puts you in the faster half of a typical field. That is the middle of these RunSignup fields, walkers and charity entrants included, not a national average.
The median one finished 164 runners, across the 536 of these December 5K races with published results from past editions. Most are far smaller than the big-city events people picture, which means less crowding at the start and a friendlier field, with a last recorded finisher at 1:04:32.
Florida has 170, Texas has 118, California has 69, Georgia has 55, North Carolina has 47. If you are willing to travel, those are the states where a December weekend gives you the most to choose from.
Yes, 32 races around the United States get you off the pavement: 12 are trail races, and 20 mix road and trail. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
November and January sit either side of December, which is where most people look next when a date does not fit.
