Sun, Dec 6, 2026

Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race

Buffalo, NY

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

1.86 Miles

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Dec 5, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race

The course runs along the ring road through Delaware Park, starting near a well-known statue on the southern side of the loop. It is a short road race, mostly flat, through a park that sees steady use year-round. The Christmas timing means cold air and bare trees, which gives the whole thing a stark, wintry feel.

After the race, the group heads to a nearby restaurant on Hertel Avenue for the post-race gathering. Trophies go to the overall winners and masters winners, with age group awards going several places deep across a wide span of age brackets.

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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.

1.86 Miles · 2025 results

86finishers

9:38winner

16:13median

33:59cutoff

Top 3: Jack Tharnish (9:38) · Chase Allard (9:56) · Andrew Macdonald (10:20)

The Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 1.86 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

1.86 Miles12/6/2026 09:00$25

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Common Questions About the Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race

Will I finish last at the Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race?

Almost certainly not. Half the 1.86 Miles field finished slower than 16:13, and the last recorded finisher came in around 33:59, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race a good first 1.86 Miles?

It is a small race (86 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 1.86 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Checkers A.C. Christmas 3k Race?

The 1.86 Miles winner ran 9:38 while the median finisher took 16:13. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.