Thu, Dec 24, 2026

The Christmas Eve 5k

Pittsburgh, PA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2022

Entry is $25 now and rises to $35 after Jul 27, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Christmas Eve 5k

The course runs along the North Shore near PNC Park, so you get a stadium and riverfront backdrop on Christmas Eve morning. The terrain is flat, and the surroundings are open enough that you can see other runners spread out ahead of you. Age group awards go fairly deep, so there is real competition if you want it.

Race-morning packet pickup runs in the start and finish area, though the organizers suggest picking up early to avoid a wait. Hot chocolate and cookies are out after you finish.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a big field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.

5K · 2025 results

2,157finishers

15:21winner

32:24median

1:15:40cutoff

Top 3: Hayden Hunt (15:21) · Mackenzie Mettille (15:41) · Nick Welch (15:56)

The Christmas Eve 5k has been held every year since at least 2022. 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

5K12/24/2026 10:00$25

The Christmas Eve 5k (4 & UNDER) FREE ENTRY12/24/2026 10:00Free

5K12/24/2026 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.

Plan Your Trip

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Common Questions About the The Christmas Eve 5k

Will I finish last at the Christmas Eve 5k?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 32:24, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:15:40, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Christmas Eve 5k a good first 5K?

With 2,157 finishers there are runners at every pace, so you are never out on your own. 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 Christmas Eve 5k?

The 5K winner ran 15:21 while the median finisher took 32:24. That spread points to a broad, mostly recreational field rather than a race dominated by club runners.

Where can I train for the Christmas Eve 5k?

Join a local run club. City of Bridges Run Club, Yinz Run Club, Pittsburgh Pharaoh Hounds and others in Pittsburgh welcome runners of all paces, and a weekly group run is the most reliable way to hold a training block together.