Sat, Dec 5, 2026

Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run

Crete, IL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Nov 28, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run

This holiday race in Crete runs through the area with costumes encouraged, particularly anything in Grinch green. It benefits the local food pantry, and runners are asked to bring a canned good or other nonperishable item to donate at the start. The mood is more costume parade than clock-chaser, with strollers and all paces part of the picture.

After the race, there is a breakfast with a Grinch character appearance, held nearby and requiring a separate registration. Fruit, water, and granola are set up in a runner's tent at the finish.

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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

64finishers

17:36winner

30:42median

51:50cutoff

Top 3: John Niendorf (17:36) · Kevin Hardin (18:26) · Stephen Stolzenbach (19:35)

The Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run has been held every year since at least 2021. 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 Miles12/5/2026 08:00$35

3.1 Miles12/5/2026 08:00$25

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 Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run

Will I finish last at the Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 30:42, and the last recorded finisher came in around 51:50, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (64 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 Crete Country Christmas 5k Grinch Run?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 17:36 while the median finisher took 30:42. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.