Sat, Dec 19, 2026

Catch the Elf 5k & 10k

Markham, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K10K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Dec 5, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Catch the Elf 5k & 10k

The course location has not been announced yet. What is clear is the format: each distance has its own elf who gets a head start, and if you finish ahead of the elf, you win a prize. Awards go to the top finishers overall and across age groups, and Santa is on site for kids.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local running store, with race-morning pickup available as well. A secret Santa exchange is organized for participants who bring a small, wrapped, running-related gift at pickup. Gear check is available at the race site.

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Finish-Time Stats

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

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

75finishers

15:56winner

29:44median

1:07:26cutoff

Top 3: Noah Luke (15:56) · Hudson Neth (17:10) · Nicholas Manso (17:42)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

41finishers

34:42winner

52:41median

1:55:30cutoff

Top 3: James Weissensel (34:42) · Michael Lasusa (35:11) · Matthew Moo (38:11)

The Catch the Elf 5k & 10k 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 3.1 Miles 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

3.1 Miles12/19/2026 09:00$35

6.2 Miles12/19/2026 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.

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Common Questions About the Catch the Elf 5k & 10k

Will I finish last at the Catch the Elf 5k & 10k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 29:44, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:26, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Catch the Elf 5k & 10k a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (75 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Catch the Elf 5k & 10k?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 15:56 while the median finisher took 29:44. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.