Sun, Dec 13, 2026

Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA)

Saratoga Springs, NY

Opens Sep 12, 2026Annual since at least 2023

About the Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA)

This is a holiday-themed race in Saratoga Springs where runners choose a side: Team GRINCH or Team SANTA. The competitive angle is the team battle, which gives the race a bit of a costume-contest energy alongside the running. Ugly sweaters are clearly the dress code, and the course runs through Saratoga Spa Park.

Packet pickup happens at the Warming Hut in Saratoga Spa Park the evening before the race, with race-morning pickup also available. After the race, the party moves to Active Ingredient Brewing Company in Malta, where runners get a discount on drinks.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near Saratoga Springs 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 small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

196finishers

19:40winner

36:07median

1:05:56cutoff

Top 3: Ramon Dominguez (19:40) · Viggo Dennerline Mcclellan (21:36) · Greg Ethier (21:38)

The Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA) has been held every year since at least 2023. 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 Sep 10, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/13/2026 13:00$40

5K12/13/2026 13:00$50

5K12/13/2026 13:00$42

5K12/13/2026 13:00$52

5K12/13/2026 13:00$46

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 Saratoga Springs — 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 Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA)

Will I finish last at the Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA)?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 36:07, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:05:56, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA) a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (196 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 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Saratoga Ugly Sweater 5K (Team GRINCH vs Team SANTA)?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 19:40 while the median finisher took 36:07. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.