Sun, Dec 13, 2026

Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo

Toledo, OH

Registration openAnnual since at least 2019

5K1K

Entry is $35 now and rises to $45 after Nov 16, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo

The course runs through the Toledo Zoo while the Lights Before Christmas display is up, so you are moving through the animal exhibits after dark with the holiday lighting around you. A shorter kids' route runs alongside the main course, and costumes are common, holiday-themed gear especially.

Packet pickup happens on the two evenings before the race at a local running shop in Sylvania. If you register late, packets are available at the zoo on race morning. There is complimentary hot cocoa at the finish.

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Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo 2025 Results

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 Results · 2025

531finishers

17:10winner

39:52median

1:07:59cutoff

Top 3: Aiden Lee (17:10) · Lucas Kuhn (17:28) · Bryce Hans (17:36)

The Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo has been held every year since at least 2019. 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 Oct 18, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/13/2026 16:00$35

1K12/13/2026 15:00$15

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.

Not sure what to aim for? The 5K pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo

Will I finish last at the Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 39:52, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:07:59, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo a good first 5K?

A field of 531 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 Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5k by Toledo Zoo?

The 5K winner ran 17:10 while the median finisher took 39:52. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.