Sun, Dec 20, 2026

Santa Run

Springfield, MO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2018

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Nov 28, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Santa Run

The course runs through Springfield dressed as Santa, alongside a crowd of other Santas. The suit is part of the entry, so you show up already dressed. Hot chocolate with marshmallows and dipping treats wait at the finish, which makes the post-race stop worth lingering over.

Packet pickup runs the afternoon before at Fleet Feet Springfield, the race's home store. Runners coming from out of town have a short pickup window at the start area on race morning before the gun goes off.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2023 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2023 results

173finishers

18:44winner

34:23median

1:05:06cutoff

Top 3: Myles Loffler (18:44) · Chevy Walker (20:36) · Marcus Johnson (20:36)

The Santa Run 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/20/2026 08:00$40

1 Mile Run/Walk12/20/2026 08:00$40

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 Run

Will I finish last at the Santa Run?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 34:23, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:05:06, 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 Run a good first 5K?

It is a small race (173 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 Santa Run?

The 5K winner ran 18:44 while the median finisher took 34:23. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.