It's A Wonderful Run 5K

It's A Wonderful Run 5K is a holiday-season road race in New York State on December 12, 2026. The single distance is a 5K (3.1 miles), and the start is set for 4:40 PM, which puts the race right around dusk in mid-December. The name is a nod to the classic holiday film, and the late-afternoon slot gives the event a different rhythm from the usual Saturday-morning 5K.

With the start late in the day, plan your meals and warm-up accordingly: a normal lunch, a light snack about two hours before, then 10 to 15 minutes of easy jogging and a few strides before the gun. Dress for the temperature at sunset rather than the afternoon high, and bring a layer you can shed at the start. The distance suits first-timers and experienced runners alike; if you want to race it, a few weeks of short intervals at 5K effort on top of your regular easy running is enough preparation.