Sat, Dec 5, 2026

MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk

Caldwell, NJ

Registration openAnnual since at least 2018

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Oct 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk

This is a USATF Grand Prix points race, which means the field tends to draw competitive runners alongside those just out for a holiday-themed morning. The course runs through Caldwell, on streets, and the race carries enough standing that it counts toward a regional points series.

Packet pickup runs at a local running store a couple of evenings before the race, then moves to the St. Aloysius Church gymnasium the night before. That same gymnasium serves as the race-morning hub, with registration available until shortly before the start. Street parking is the plan, so arriving a bit early helps. Post-race festivities and shopping keep things going after the awards.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Caldwell on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.

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

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

343finishers

15:15winner

32:31median

1:02:02cutoff

Top 3: Michael Bond (15:15) · Damian Alvarado (16:07) · Michael Maglione (16:38)

The MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk has been held every year since at least 2018. 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

5K12/5/2026 09:30$30

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

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Caldwell — 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 MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk

Will I finish last at the MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:31, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:02:02, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk a good first 5K?

A field of 343 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 MSDA 5K Reindeer Run/Walk?

The 5K winner ran 15:15 while the median finisher took 32:31. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.