Sat, Dec 5, 2026

Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026

Elkhart, IN

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

5K1.5 Miles

Entry is $20 now and rises to $30 after Sep 30, 2026, so registering before then saves $10.

About the Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026

The course runs through a handful of small parks near the middle school that serves as the start and finish, so there are trees and open green spaces between the neighborhoods. The ugly sweater theme is taken seriously: a contest runs alongside the race, with categories for age groups and teams, and the photo booth before the start is part of the routine.

The gym at the school is open before and after the race, which matters in cold weather. Packet pickup the evening before is at a local aquatics center nearby. On race morning, the gym opens early and parking is free on site, with attendants directing traffic in from the Bristol Street side. Hot chocolate and granola bars are at the finish.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

5K · 2025 results

145finishers

19:39winner

33:16median

1:05:58cutoff

Top 3: Brandon Avila (19:39) · Lyam Chavarria (19:58) · Elmer Schlabach (20:03)

The Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026 has been held every year since at least 2021. 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

5K12/5/2026 08:30$20

1.5 Miles12/5/2026 08:33$20

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.

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Common Questions About the Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026

Will I finish last at the Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 33:16, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:05:58, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026 a good first 5K?

It is a small race (145 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 Ugly Sweater 5K Run and Sweater Stroll 2026?

The 5K winner ran 19:39 while the median finisher took 33:16. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.