Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Jingle Bell LEAP 5K

Durham, NC

Opens Sep 1, 2026Annual since at least 2015

About the Jingle Bell LEAP 5K

The course starts at the trailhead where the American Tobacco Trail meets Morehead Avenue and Blackwell Street, then heads out and back on the trail. It is a road and paved-trail surface, flat and straightforward, with a water station along the way and bagels and bananas at the finish. The race benefits a local bilingual early-education program.

Packet pickup is the evening before at the LEAP School. On race morning, registration and check-in open at the start area before the run begins. Street parking is available on Blackwell Street, and there are lots off Jackie Robinson Boulevard near a Mellow Mushroom restaurant.

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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.

5K · 2025 results

227finishers

18:42winner

34:57median

1:09:26cutoff

Top 3: Dashiell Cohen (18:42) · Kody Kerr (18:46) · Doran Cummings (18:56)

The Jingle Bell LEAP 5K has been held every year since at least 2015. 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 09:00$30

5K12/12/2026 09:00$25

5K12/12/2026 09:00$20

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 Jingle Bell LEAP 5K

Will I finish last at the Jingle Bell LEAP 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:57, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:09:26, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Jingle Bell LEAP 5K a good first 5K?

A field of 227 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 Jingle Bell LEAP 5K?

The 5K winner ran 18:42 while the median finisher took 34:57. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.