The Great Christmas Chase 5K | Team Santa vs. Team Grinch

The Great Christmas Chase 5K | Team Santa vs. Team Grinch is run in Lawrenceville, Illinois, on December 5, 2026, with one format, a 5K (3.1 miles), going off at 8:00 AM. The team framing gives the morning a little friendly rivalry, but the running itself is a straightforward early-December road 5K on a small-town course.

For most people this is a social race, and a 5K is short enough that you can show up on general fitness and still enjoy it. If you would rather use the day to chase a time, spend the weeks beforehand running easy four days a week and add one workout of five or six three-minute repeats at a hard but controlled effort. December mornings in southern Illinois are cold, so warm up properly before the gun and keep a dry top in your bag for afterward.