Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run

Dade City, FL

Registration openAnnual since at least 2024

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Nov 12, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run

The course winds through the golf course at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, and the terrain is notably hilly for this part of the state. Strollers are welcome on the route, and walkers run alongside runners throughout. Costumes are encouraged, and the best ones earn a prize for adults and kids alike.

After the run, the pool area at the club fills up with music and snacks. There is also a raffle, including a drawing for wagons stocked with an assortment of spirits, so bringing a little cash is worth it. Proceeds benefit a local domestic violence and sexual assault support center.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly 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

172finishers

17:35winner

48:40median

1:14:13cutoff

Top 3: Michael Hayeck (17:35) · Jaxon Alonso (19:12) · Jose Cervantes (24:10)

The Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run has been held every year since at least 2024. 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 Sep 22, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/12/2026 08:00$35

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Common Questions About the Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run

Will I finish last at the Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 48:40, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:14:13, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (172 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 Lake Jovita 5K Reindeer Run?

The 5K winner ran 17:35 while the median finisher took 48:40. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.