Sat, Dec 19, 2026

Grinch Gallop

Van Alstyne, TX

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

About the Grinch Gallop

The course runs out and back on country roads, starting and finishing at a college campus. Because of the out-and-back shape, you pass oncoming runners on the way back, which makes it easy to spot friends and exchange a wave or a high five. The roads around Van Alstyne are open and flat.

Packet pickup is at a soap shop on Main Drive before race day, and the organizers are clear that race-morning pickup is limited, so it is worth planning to go early. A friend or family member can pick up your packet if you cannot make it yourself.

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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

424finishers

17:51winner

36:38median

1:11:20cutoff

Top 3: Mikey McCart (17:51) · Caden Martin (18:06) · Alex Benton (19:08)

The Grinch Gallop 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 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

5K12/19/2026 08:00$42

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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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Grinch Gallop

Will I finish last at the Grinch Gallop?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 36:38, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:20, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Grinch Gallop a good first 5K?

A field of 424 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 Grinch Gallop?

The 5K winner ran 17:51 while the median finisher took 36:38. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.