Sat, Nov 21, 2026

Running of the Elves 5K

Central, LA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

1 Mile3.47 Miles

Entry is $25 now and rises to $30 after Oct 1, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Running of the Elves 5K

The course runs through Central, billed as a picturesque loop around the city. Holiday costumes are encouraged, and a good portion of the field shows up dressed for it, which gives the morning a festive energy without anyone making you feel underdressed if you just want to run.

Packet pickup is the evening before at a community athletics gym, with race-morning pickup available at the stadium. After the race, pancakes and coffee are set up for everyone, and there are kid activities, a costume contest, and a chance to get a photo with Santa.

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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.

3.47 Miles · 2025 results

421finishers

21:03winner

41:29median

1:11:02cutoff

Top 3: Phillip Watts (21:03) · Justin Abadie (21:30) · Jean-Marc Brown (21:47)

1 Miles · 2025 results

37finishers

7:15winner

11:49median

17:25cutoff

Top 3: L. Barbalich (7:15) · H. Rabalais (7:47) · U. Lavergne (8:45)

The Running of the Elves 5K has been held every year since at least 2020. 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 3.47 Miles 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

1 Mile11/21/2026 07:45$30

3.47 Miles11/21/2026 08:00$30

3.47 Miles11/21/2026 08:00$25

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 Running of the Elves 5K

Will I finish last at the Running of the Elves 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.47 Miles field finished slower than 41:29, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:11:02, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Running of the Elves 5K a good first 3.47 Miles?

A field of 421 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 3.47 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Running of the Elves 5K?

The 3.47 Miles winner ran 21:03 while the median finisher took 41:29. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.