Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Dirty Santa Trail Run

Lenoir, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5 Miles

Entry is $45 now and rises to $50 after Oct 10, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Dirty Santa Trail Run

The course starts and finishes at a soccer complex outside downtown Lenoir, mixing single-track mountain bike trail with natural field and gravel, plus a short stretch of pavement to break things up. The trail section runs through the woods, so expect roots and uneven ground underfoot. It is a short effort, but the terrain keeps it honest.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local brewery in town, with race-morning pickup available before the start. After you finish, there is a s'mores station and hot cocoa. Top finishers pick awards from a pile in Dirty Santa style, which makes the post-race gathering worth sticking around for.

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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

107finishers

28:30winner

48:59median

1:22:09cutoff

Top 3: Steven Smith (28:30) · Ethan Carrigan (29:55) · Cesar Reyes (30:46)

The Dirty Santa Trail Run 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 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 Miles12/12/2026 09:00$45

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

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Dirty Santa Trail Run

Will I finish last at the Dirty Santa Trail Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5 Miles field finished slower than 48:59, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:22:09, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Dirty Santa Trail Run a good first 5 Miles?

It is a small race (107 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 Dirty Santa Trail Run?

The 5 Miles winner ran 28:30 while the median finisher took 48:59. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.