Sat, Dec 19, 2026

Sweaty Sweater 5k

Fort Collins, CO

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

5K1 Mile

Entry is $5 now and rises to $7.50 after Oct 26, 2026, so registering before then saves $2.50.

About the Sweaty Sweater 5k

The Sweaty Sweater 5k is a holiday costume run in Fort Collins built around ugly sweaters. The whole point is to show up in something hideous and bulky, so the start line tends to look more like an ugly sweater contest than a road race. All paces are welcome, and prancing is apparently encouraged.

Hot chocolate is waiting at the finish, which fits the season and the spirit of the thing. Beyond that, the post-race scene follows naturally from the crowd: people who ran in wool holiday sweaters are not in a hurry to leave.

Free race emails

Get the Weekly RunSesh

Get races near Fort Collins in your inbox. Every Monday we send the races coming up, and every Thursday we send the ones happening that weekend.

Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Sweaty Sweater 5k 2025 Results

Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K Results · 2025

335finishers

19:05winner

35:50median

1:05:46cutoff

The Sweaty Sweater 5k 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 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 25, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

5K12/19/2026 09:00$39

1 Mile12/19/2026 10:00$5

5K12/19/2026 00:00$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.

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

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Fort Collins — 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 Sweaty Sweater 5k

Will I finish last at the Sweaty Sweater 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 35:50, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:05:46, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Sweaty Sweater 5k a good first 5K?

A field of 335 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 Sweaty Sweater 5k?

The 5K winner ran 19:05 while the median finisher took 35:50. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.