Sat, Dec 5, 2026

Buffalo Blizzard Run

Buffalo, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

About the Buffalo Blizzard Run

The course loops around the Buffalo State University campus, taking in the architecture and tree-lined streets before returning to the Buffalo Holiday Market where the race begins. The market itself is the backdrop for the start and finish, a European-style outdoor market with food and drink stalls already running when you cross the line.

Packet pickup is the afternoon before the race, held inside the Richardson Hotel. Follow the signs from the front entrance to the correct dining room. The start line is just behind the hotel, and after the race the market is right there, with hot cocoa and other drinks available.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Buffalo on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

· 2025 results

170finishers

17:48winner

33:02median

1:03:02cutoff

Top 3: Ben Whelan (17:48) · John Feroleto (19:11) · Lauren Whelan (20:43)

The Buffalo Blizzard Run has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K Run/Walk12/5/2026 16:30$40

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Buffalo — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the Buffalo Blizzard Run

Will I finish last at the Buffalo Blizzard Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 33:02, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:03:02, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Buffalo Blizzard Run a good first race?

It is a small race (170 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Buffalo Blizzard Run?

The race winner ran 17:48 while the median finisher took 33:02. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.