Catch the Elf 5k & 10k 2026
- Date
- Saturday, December 19, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (Chicago)
- Location
- Markham, Illinois
- Entry fee
- From $35 · goes up to $45 on Dec 6, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catch the Elf 10k | 10K | Dec 19, 20269:00 AM | $40$45 after Dec 6, 2026 | – |
| Catch the Elf 5k | 5K | Dec 19, 20269:00 AM | $35$40 after Dec 5, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 10K fee goes up to $45 on Dec 6, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Catch the Elf 10k: $40 until Dec 6, then $45 until Dec 19, then $55 until Dec 20.
- Catch the Elf 5k: $35 until Dec 5, then $40 until Dec 18, then $50 until Dec 19.
Online registration closes Dec 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $40, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in Illinois ($42).
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 10K in Illinois runs 1:03:01, about 10:08 a mile, based on 51 races with published results. Women typically finish in 1:07:48 and men in 57:32.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:12 AM, and the Catch the Elf 10k starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 610 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
4000 W 155th St, Markham, IL 60428
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All resultsCatch the Elf 5k
Catch the Elf 10k
Aggregated from official results (Illinois Prep Top Timing) for Catch the Elf 5k & 10k. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Catch the Elf 5k & 10k?
At the 2025 Catch the Elf 5k, the fastest tenth finished in 21:04 or better, the top quarter in 25:03, and half the field in 29:44; the last tenth came in after 48:14.
At the 2025 Catch the Elf 10k, the fastest tenth finished in 39:06 or better, the top quarter in 47:06, and half the field in 52:41; the last tenth came in after 1:18:26.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 21:26 | 17:42 |
| 20-29 | 28:07 | n/a |
| 30-39 | n/a | 27:26 |
| 40-49 | 27:18 | 26:09 |
| 50-59 | 35:11 | n/a |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Illinois 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 25:03, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here run 12 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 19 the day usually runs from 28°F at dawn to 39°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 7°F and hot years reach 53°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 4000 W 155th St, Markham, IL 60428Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 610 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 19, 2026), 2025 (Dec 20, 2025)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Catch the Elf 5k & 10k?
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Dec 6, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 20, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Illinois?
- At $40, entry is about the same as a typical 10K in Illinois ($42).
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 5K, 10K.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 75 runners finished the Catch the Elf 5k; the median finish was 29:44 and the winner ran 15:56.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 25:03, against 28:26 in a typical Illinois 5K, so times here run 12 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 4000 W 155th St, Markham, IL 60428.
From the organizers
Join us for the 2nd Annual Catch the Elf race on December 20th. This Christmas themed race benefits the Toy Box Connection Children's Charity.
Date and Location: December 19, 2026 at NEW LOCATION IN 2026- TBA
Race Format: Each race (the 5k and the 10k) will have its own race elf. The elf will get a one minute thirty second head start. If you finish before the elf, you will win a special prize!
Awards: Each chip timed race will have awards for the Top 3 overall as well as the top 3 males and females in various age groups.
Santa's Presence: Santa will be on site to hear Children's Christmas Wishes.