Elves on the Run - AL

Elves on the Run - AL is run in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 5, 2026, with two formats going off together at 7:00 AM: a 5K (3.1 miles) and a 10K (6.2 miles). A 7:00 AM start means lining up around first light on a cool central Alabama morning, which is close to ideal for hard running.

The choice between the two distances is really a choice about your training. If you have been running three or four times a week without a structured plan, the 5K will suit you and you can push it comfortably. The 10K rewards a longer aerobic base: a weekly long run of six to eight miles and one tempo session per week over a couple of months will have you racing it rather than surviving it. Starting both distances at once also means the early miles will be crowded, so pace by effort, not by whoever passes you.