Sat, Dec 12, 2026

Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K

Huntington Beach, CA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2016

5K10K

Entry is $38 now and rises to $40 after Oct 28, 2026, so registering before then saves $2.

About the Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K

The course runs along the beach at Bolsa Chica State Beach, so you get ocean air and open sky the whole way. Before the start, live carolers sing, artificial snow falls, and Santa is on hand for photos. There is also a costume contest and a group warm-up dance, which sets the tone for the morning pretty well.

Packet pickup happens race morning at the main parking lot, with no confirmed early pickup location yet. Parking at the lot costs a flat fee per vehicle, though free street parking exists in Sunset Beach nearby if you want to walk in. Afterward, food vendors serve tamales, tacos, coffee, and fresh fruit, so there is a reason to linger by the water.

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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.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

626finishers

18:53winner

38:25median

2:13:23cutoff

Top 3: Hunter Tworek (18:53) · Ivan Ardashev (19:06) · Vitor Muniz (20:30)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

210finishers

35:29winner

1:07:25median

1:54:50cutoff

Top 3: Daniel Cisneros (35:29) · Spencer Lam (36:58) · Trévon Session (40:49)

The Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K has been held every year since at least 2016. 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 3.1 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

3.1 Miles12/12/2026 08:30$38

6.2 Miles12/12/2026 08:30$42

HO HO HO KID's DASH Course12/12/2026 08:00$32

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 Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K

Will I finish last at the Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 38:25, and the last recorded finisher came in around 2:13:23, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 626 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Santa Claus For A Cause 5K/10K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 18:53 while the median finisher took 38:25. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.