To pick a holiday race, start with the kind of fun you want: a jingle bell run with bells on your shoes, a Santa run in a red suit, an ugly sweater run, or a New Year's Day race to start the year on your feet. Pick a distance for each person, check the costume, stroller and dog rules before you sign up, dress for the cold, and get there early. Then keep the goal simple: everybody finishes, somebody takes the photo, and you all go get hot chocolate.
December races are the silliest races of the year. Nobody is chasing a personal best in a Santa beard. The kids jingle the whole way, and somebody's sweater has working lights. That's the whole point.
What kinds of holiday races are there?
Jingle bell runs: runners tie bells to their shoes, so the whole start line jingles. Some races hand out the bells with your bib.
Santa runs: a crowd of Santas on the move. Some races include the suit with your entry.
Ugly sweater runs: the louder the sweater, the better. There's often a contest at the finish.
Holiday lights runs: evening runs past lights and decorations.
New Year's races: a countdown run on New Year's Eve, or a New Year's Day race to start the year.
What distance should my family do?
Pick a distance for each person, not one for the whole group.
A kids' dash (sometimes called an "elf dash" or a "reindeer run"): a short run for little ones, often just before or after the main race.
A 1-mile run or walk: great for grandparents, new runners and kids who want a "real" race.
A 5K (3.1 miles): the classic. Walking it is completely fine.
Splitting up works too: the fast cousin runs the 5K, everyone else does the mile, and you meet at the finish. Walking the 5K? Check for a time limit.
What should I wear to a holiday race?
Dress for the weather first and the theme second. December can be cold, wet, windy or icy, depending on where you live. Runners warm up fast. Walkers, little kids and anyone in a stroller don't, so dress them warmer.
Layers you can peel off, hats and gloves, and an old sweatshirt for the wait at the start.
A Santa suit gets warm fast once you're moving. Wear a thin shirt underneath, and pull the beard down under your chin when it gets itchy.
An ugly sweater counts as your warm layer. Wear a light shirt under it and skip the heavy jacket.
Bells and antlers: tie bells into your laces with a double knot, and pick antlers with a strap or pin them on.
Test every costume on a practice walk, so nothing trips anyone.
Can we bring a stroller or the dog?
Often, yes, but every race sets its own rules. If the race page doesn't say, ask the race director before race day, not at the start line.
With a stroller: start at the back, use the wrist strap and bring a blanket. The kid riding along sits still and gets cold faster than the person pushing.
With a dog: start at the back, use a short leash, and bring water and bags. Jingling bells and a crowd of Santas are a lot for some dogs, so bring one who stays calm in a crowd. A festive collar is plenty of costume.
What about an evening lights run?
Running past the lights is magic. It's also harder to see in the dark.
Wear something reflective, and bring a small light if the race allows it.
Pick a meeting spot under a bright light, away from the finish.
It gets colder fast after sunset, so keep an extra layer for the walk back to the car.
Why run a New Year's Day race?
Because it's the easiest resolution you'll ever keep. Your first run of the year is done on the first day, and you get to say so all month.
Check the start time the night before, and set two alarms.
Staying up for midnight? Lay out your clothes, bib and shoes before you go out.
Drink plenty of water the night before, and plan a safe ride home from any party.
When should we get there?
Earlier than you think. Parking and bathroom lines fill up fast, and holiday traffic doesn't help. With kids, aim for 45 minutes to an hour before your start.
If the race has packet pickup the day before, go. It's the best line you'll skip all morning.
Pin bibs on the front at home, and write a phone number on the back of each kid's bib.
Hit the bathroom before you line up. Then take the kids one more time.
Can I give a race entry as a gift?
Yes, and it's a great present for the runner who has everything. On Run This, when a race sells gift entries, you'll see a Gift button under Register on the race page. Pick the distance, type their name, and add their email to send it now, or leave it blank and wrap it up yourself. You can pay for the whole entry or cover part of it.
You get a printable gift card with the code. When they're ready, they register with their own details, and your gift pays for the part you covered.
How do we make it a family tradition?
Pick one race and keep going back. Same start line, same hill, same hot chocolate.
Match: a family sweater theme you vote on each year.
Take the same photo in the same spot every year, and watch the kids grow.
Keep the bibs (and the bells). Write the year and everyone's time on the back.
On Run This: each race you run can earn a trophy on your profile, one for every year you run it. Kids you register as dependents build their race history under your account. When a race posts its photos on Run This, they're free to download, so the Santa photo is easy to keep.
Holiday race-morning checklist
Bibs pinned on, with a phone number on the back of each kid's bib
Costumes tested and bells double-knotted
Layers, hats and gloves, plus a throwaway sweatshirt
Something reflective for an evening race
A blanket for the stroller
Water and snacks
For the dog: a short leash, water and bags
A meeting spot everyone knows
Phones charged
Dry clothes and socks in the car
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk a holiday race?
Yes. Lots of families walk the whole way. A 5K walk takes most people about an hour, and a 1-mile walk about 20 minutes. Start near the back so runners can pass.
What if it snows or the roads are icy?
The race decides, so watch the race page and your email the night before. On Run This, when a race postpones or cancels, its page shows a clear banner and everyone registered gets an alert.
What if the race we want is sold out?
Look for a waitlist. On Run This, a sold-out distance with a waitlist says "Sold out. Waitlist open." Joining is free, and you get an email if a spot opens for you.
How do I find a holiday race near me?
Open Run This race search and type "jingle", "santa", "sweater" or "new year", or jump straight to this search.
Add your ZIP code and pick how far you'll drive.
Set the dates from early December through New Year's Day.
Open a race and check the distances, the start time, and the stroller and dog rules.
Tap Save and leave yourself a note, like "matching sweaters?" Decide with the family later.
Saved races show up on your Run This calendar, and your followers see the save in their feed (a sneaky way to recruit a cousin). Some races register right on Run This, so you can sign up the whole family in one cart with one payment, and kids don't need accounts of their own. Others send you to their own registration page.
Want to host one for your neighborhood, school or club? Read How to Plan a Holiday Fun Run. Picking a race for the new year? Read How to Choose Your Next Race.
Got a holiday race tip I missed? Tell me. I read every one. Happy holidays.
