Jingle Bell Jaunt Fun Run

Jingle Bell Jaunt Fun Run takes place in Mount Gilead, North Carolina, on December 5, 2026, with both formats starting at 8:30 AM: a 5K (3.1 miles) and a shorter 1.5-mile route. Two options off one start line make it simple to enter as a group and pick the distance that matches how much running you have actually been doing.

The 1.5-mile is a walk-friendly outing that most people can finish in half an hour or less. The 5K is where the racing happens, and it responds quickly to preparation: three or four easy runs a week for a month, plus one workout of short repeats, is enough to knock minutes off a first attempt. Piedmont North Carolina in early December is usually cold at 8:30 AM but mild once you are moving, so start with a layer you are willing to carry.