Sun, Dec 6, 2026

YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble

Kingston, NY

Registration open43rd annual

Entry is $20 now and rises to $23 after Dec 3, 2026, so registering before then saves $3.

About the YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble

The Reindeer Ramble is a holiday road race that starts and finishes at the YMCA in Kingston. The course is open to runners and walkers alike, and the mood leans toward participation over pace. One of the more memorable options is the Santa-Pede, where a team ties themselves together and runs in a line, reindeer-style, which tends to draw a crowd at the start.

Post-race, there is a party at the finish with prizes. Race-morning registration is available if you skip the advance signup, so showing up without a bib is fine. The whole thing runs regardless of weather, snow included.

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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

217finishers

17:58winner

30:30median

1:04:33cutoff

Top 3: Galo Vasquez (17:58) · Kevin McMorrow (18:00) · Massimo Cordella (18:30)

· 2025 results

5finishers

24:59winner

25:00median

25:01cutoff

Top 3: Max Gruner (25:00) · Jess Oakley (24:59) · Chris Gallo (25:00)

The YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble is in its 43rd year.

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

5K12/6/2026 12:00$20

5K12/6/2026 12:00$23

5K12/6/2026 12:00$25

YMCA 43rd Reindeer Ramble 5K - SantaPede12/6/2026 12:00$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 YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble

Will I finish last at the YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble?

Almost certainly not. Half the 5K field finished slower than 30:30, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:04:33, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble a good first 5K?

A field of 217 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 YMCA 43rd Annual Reindeer Ramble?

The 5K winner ran 17:58 while the median finisher took 30:30. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.