Sun, Dec 6, 2026

Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k

Cleveland, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2025

5K1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Dec 4, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k

The course runs through Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which makes it unlike most road races. You are moving past animal exhibits rather than storefronts or park paths, and the surroundings give the whole thing a different texture. Ugly sweaters are part of the deal, so the field tends to look more like a holiday party than a typical morning start line.

Spectators need to purchase zoo admission separately to get inside, so it is worth letting your crew know ahead of time. The organizers flag that water on the course is limited due to the cold, so bringing your own bottle is the practical move. Packet pickup opens well before the start.

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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

313finishers

17:39winner

36:40median

1:08:16cutoff

Top 3: Ethan Gross (17:39) · Brandon McQueen (21:21) · Elise Turner (21:33)

The Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k 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 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

5K12/6/2026 08:30$30

1 Mile12/6/2026 09:00$30

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 Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k

Will I finish last at the Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:40, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:08:16, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 313 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 Cleveland Metroparks Ugly Sweater 5k?

The 5K winner ran 17:39 while the median finisher took 36:40. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.