Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Deck the Heels 5K Night Run

Altavista, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2018

5K5K

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Nov 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Deck the Heels 5K Night Run

The course runs along Main Street, heading north before crossing a bridge over a river, continuing into a neighboring town, and passing through a tunnel before turning back. Decorated homes and holiday lights line the route, so there is something to look at the whole way. Runners are encouraged to show up in festive gear, and glow accessories are available at packet pickup.

Packet pickup is held at the Booker Building on Broad Street the evening before the race, with a second window on race day itself. The post-race area includes Santa, hot chocolate, food, and music, so most people stick around after they finish.

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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

547finishers

16:55winner

36:29median

1:00:04cutoff

Top 3: Shane Stevens (16:55) · Tyler Schmidt (17:13) · Adam Wells (17:45)

The Deck the Heels 5K Night Run has been held every year since at least 2018. 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

5K12/12/2026 17:00$30

3.1 Miles12/12/2026 00:00$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.

Plan Your Trip

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Common Questions About the Deck the Heels 5K Night Run

Will I finish last at the Deck the Heels 5K Night Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:29, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:04, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Deck the Heels 5K Night Run a good first 5K?

A field of 547 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 Deck the Heels 5K Night Run?

The 5K winner ran 16:55 while the median finisher took 36:29. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.