Sat, Jan 9, 2027

The Lost Elves 5k

Oakwood, GA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2014

5K1K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Dec 14, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Lost Elves 5k

The course is USATF certified and starts at the Oakwood Community Center, running through downtown Oakwood. Elves are hidden along the route, and runners dressed in holiday costumes compete for a best-dressed award. Santa sends the field off from a nearby park, so the start has a theatrical edge to it.

Packet pickup runs the two evenings before race day at a location in Flowery Branch, with a shorter window on the morning of the race at the Community Center. After the race, there is a pancake breakfast with Buddy the Elf at the Community Center, open to runners and families, with tickets purchased separately.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Oakwood in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

The Lost Elves 5k 2025 Results

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K Results · 2025

65finishers

19:09winner

32:08median

53:04cutoff

Top 3: Ethan Smith (19:09) · Corbin Dotson (19:17) · Pedro Pedro (19:21)

The Lost Elves 5k has been held every year since at least 2014. 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 Nov 12, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K1/9/2027 08:30$35

1K1/9/2027 08:45$25

The Lost Elves Virtual Runner1/9/2027 08:30$35

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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Oakwood — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.

The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.

Common Questions About the The Lost Elves 5k

Will I finish last at the Lost Elves 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:08, and the last recorded finisher came in around 53:04, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Lost Elves 5k a good first 5K?

It is a small race (65 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 5K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Lost Elves 5k?

The 5K winner ran 19:09 while the median finisher took 32:08. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

Browse the Race Calendar

5K Races in January 5K Races in Georgia in January Winter 5K Races

Want more races like this delivered straight to your inbox?