Sat, Dec 5, 2026

Candy Cane Dash

Frederick, MD

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

5K1K

Entry is $28 now and rises to $35 after Oct 30, 2026, so registering before then saves $7.

About the Candy Cane Dash

The course loops Baker Park, a green stretch in downtown Frederick. The route is flat and the park setting keeps things sheltered. Costumes are part of the scene here, so expect candy canes and elves alongside people running hard. The race benefits Girls on the Run, and some of the participants are the girls the program serves.

Packet pickup opens early on race morning, with same-day registration available at the same window. A kids' fun run goes off before the main start, so families with young children can plan to be there a bit earlier.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

710finishers

17:49winner

40:20median

1:07:47cutoff

Top 3: Arthur Leathers (17:49) · Luke Miglianti (19:09) · Brian Roddewig (19:13)

The Candy Cane Dash has been held every year since at least 2017. 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 5K 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

5K12/5/2026 09:00$30

5K12/5/2026 08:50$28

1K12/5/2026 08:30$20

5K12/5/2026 09:00$40

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

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Common Questions About the Candy Cane Dash

Will I finish last at the Candy Cane Dash?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 40:20, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:47, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Candy Cane Dash a good first 5K?

A field of 710 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Candy Cane Dash?

The 5K winner ran 17:49 while the median finisher took 40:20. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.