Course
Course Map
Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual 2026
- Date
- Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Start time
- 8:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Lake Helen, Florida
- Entry fee
- From $20 · goes up to $30 on Oct 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Register on RunSignup
Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 876 finished the 5K in 2025, and this year's cap is 825.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 & Under 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Dec 24, 20268:00 AM | $20 | 225 |
| 5K Run/Walk | 5K | Dec 24, 20268:00 AM | $25$30 after Oct 1, 2026 | 825 |
| Virtual 5kVirtual | 5K | Dec 24, 20268:00 AM | $25$30 after Dec 2, 2026 | 40 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 5K fee goes up to $30 on Oct 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 17 & Under 5K Run/Walk: $20 until Dec 24.
- 5K Run/Walk: $25 until Sep 30, then $30 until Dec 4, then $40 until Dec 22, then $45 until Dec 24.
Online registration closes Dec 24, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $20, entry is about 42 percent below a typical 5K in Florida, which costs $34.50 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Florida runs 37:38, about 12:07 a mile, based on 1,089 races with published results. Women typically finish in 40:57 and men in 33:05.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:15 AM, and the 17 & Under 5K Run/Walk starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 70 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
126 Washington Ave E, Lake Helen, FL 32744, Lake Helen, FL 32744
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 results (5 years)876
finishers
37:09
median (11:59 /mi)
16:47
winning time
57% / 43%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Run 4 a Cause) for Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 24:08 or better, the top quarter in 28:36, and half the field in 37:09; the last tenth came in after 58:41.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 21:34 | 20:17 |
| 20-29 | 22:38 | 19:58 |
| 30-39 | 22:50 | 22:21 |
| 40-49 | 22:41 | 21:32 |
| 50-59 | 26:00 | 22:13 |
| 60-69 | 26:52 | 22:31 |
| 70+ | 34:37 | 28:43 |
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.
Finishers by year
Up 26 percent since 2021.
693
2021
595
2022
792
2023
756
2024
876
2025
All events combined, from official results.
Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 693 to 876 finishers, and the median time rose from 37:04 to 37:09.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 876 (+16%) | 37:09 | under 24:08 | 16:47 |
| 2024 | 756 (-5%) | 37:44 | under 24:53 | 16:31 |
| 2023 | 792 (+33%) | 38:00 | under 25:23 | 16:33 |
| 2022 | 595 (-14%) | 37:47 | under 25:00 | 17:00 |
| 2021 | 693 | 37:04 | under 24:24 | 16:50 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most Florida 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:36, against 29:59 in a typical Florida 5K, so times here run 5 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 24 the day usually runs from 55°F at dawn to 73°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 17% of days. Cold snaps dip to 43°F and hot years reach 78°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.
From the race's page
What the organizers of Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual cover on their registration page, in brief.
Parking and travel
Parking Map
Race details
- Where
- 126 Washington Ave E, Lake Helen, FL 32744, Lake Helen, FL 32744Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 70 feet
- Included with entry
- T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 24, 2026), 2025 (Dec 24, 2025), 2024 (Dec 24, 2024), 2023 (Dec 24, 2023), 2022 (Dec 24, 2022), 2021 (Dec 24, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Holiday Stress Buster 5K - 14th Annual?
- Thursday, December 24, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $20 before processing fees, and rises to $30 on Oct 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 24, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Florida?
- At $20, entry is about 42 percent below a typical 5K in Florida, which costs $34.50 right now.
- 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.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 876 runners finished the 5K Run/Walk; the median finish was 37:09 and the winner ran 16:47.
- Does it sell out?
- It can. 876 runners finished the 5K in 2025, close to this year's cap of 825, so register early.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 28:36, against 29:59 in a typical Florida 5K, so times here run 5 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 126 Washington Ave E, Lake Helen, FL 32744, Lake Helen, FL 32744.
From the organizers
📅 Sunday, December 24, 2026
⏰ Race Start: 8:00am
(Arrive early to park, warm up, collect your race bib and shirt, and use the restroom.)
📍 Blake Park : 126 Washington Ave E, Lake Helen, FL 32744
Lake Helen, FL US 32744