Fri, Nov 27, 2026

Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run

Salida, CO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

5 Miles1 Mile

Entry is $10 now and rises to $15 after Nov 23, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run

The course is a mostly flat loop through downtown Salida, out onto city streets, up to a mesa along Crestone Avenue, then back via county roads and a pedestrian path along the Monarch Spur Trail before returning to Sackett Avenue. There is a gentle climb onto the mesa and the occasional icy patch, but the terrain is paved throughout.

Packet pickup happens race morning at the Salida Scout Hut, which also serves as the start and finish area. Race-day registration is available. Parking downtown is time-limited, but free all-day options exist across the F Street bridge and in lots near Safeway. Post-race drinks and snacks are at the Scout Hut, and the evening brings a parade for the lighting of Christmas Mountain.

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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.

5 Miles · 2025 results

156finishers

25:21winner

47:34median

1:59:12cutoff

Top 3: Taylor Stack (25:21) · Dayton Brown (25:35) · Andy Setser (27:23)

1 Miles · 2025 results

94finishers

8:29winner

14:15median

30:01cutoff

Top 3: R. McKinley (8:29) · M. Spanier (8:43) · k. Kirchner (8:53)

The Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run has been held every year since at least 2020. 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 5 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

5 Miles11/27/2026 10:00$40

1 Mile11/27/2026 10:05$10

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 Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run

Will I finish last at the Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5 Miles field finished slower than 47:34, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:59:12, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run a good first 5 Miles?

It is a small race (156 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 5 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Christmas Mountain 5 Mile Run?

The 5 Miles winner ran 25:21 while the median finisher took 47:34. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.