Sat, Jan 2, 2027

Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge

Little Elm, TX

Registration openAnnual since at least 2026

Entry is $35 now and rises to $40 after Nov 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge

The race runs out of Little Elm Park, and the morning has a loose, wintry theme built around a polar plunge that follows the run. The course is not described in detail, but the event pairs the run with an optional cold-water plunge, and there is hot cocoa and donuts at the finish. A costumed mascot character tends to show up, and costume prizes are part of the post-race scene.

Packet pickup runs the evening before at a local tap house, with morning pickup available at the park before the start. Parking is in a gravel lot, with a grass overflow section toward the back. The only way in is from the south, across from a Starbucks on that street.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

· 2026 results

224finishers

18:18winner

34:02median

1:00:36cutoff

Top 3: Connor Hanna (18:18) · Aaron Ehrle (19:09) · Aaron Neal (19:17)

The Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge has been held every year since at least 2026. 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 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 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K Run1/2/2027 09:20$40

1K Fun Run1/2/2027 09:00$35

Polar Plunge1/2/2027 10:30$34

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Common Questions About the Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge

Will I finish last at the Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge?

Almost certainly not. Half the race field finished slower than 34:02, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:00:36, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge a good first race?

A field of 224 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 race, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Little Elm Polar 5K Run & Plunge?

The race winner ran 18:18 while the median finisher took 34:02. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.