NYCRUNS Ugly Sweater 5K

NYCRUNS Ugly Sweater 5K is a road race in New York, New York, on December 5, 2026, with a single 5K (3.1 miles) on the program. One distance, one field and a city course make it a short and simple outing, and the theme in the name sets the tone: this is a December race that most entrants run in costume rather than in singlets.

Costume or not, a 5K in the cold still rewards a real warm-up — fifteen minutes of easy jogging and a few strides before the start will do more for your first mile than anything else. If you want a fast time, keep the outfit light and breathable, because layers that feel right on the start line become an overheating problem by the halfway point. If you want a good morning, ignore all of that and enjoy the day.