Kris Kringle 5 Mile Run

Kris Kringle 5 Mile Run takes place in Bern Township, Pennsylvania, on December 27, 2026, with a single 5-mile (8-kilometer) race starting at 10:00 a.m. The late morning start is a rarity in December and makes for a straightforward morning: one distance, one gun, no early alarm required.

Five miles is an underrated racing distance. It is long enough that going out too hard will cost you in the final two miles, but short enough that you can race it off your ordinary weekly running without a dedicated block. Target a pace slightly slower than your 5K effort and aim to run the second half no slower than the first. For most runners, three or four weeks of steady mileage with one continuous tempo effort of twenty-five minutes is preparation enough to run it well.