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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mile | 1 Mile | Dec 19, 20268:00 AM | $45$50 after Oct 17, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Dec 19, 20268:30 AM | $45$50 after Oct 17, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 1 MileVirtual | 1 Mile | Dec 19, 20268:00 AM | $45$50 after Oct 17, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Dec 19, 20268:30 AM | $45$50 after Oct 17, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 1 Mile fee goes up to $50 on Oct 17, 2026.
Online registration closes Dec 19, 2026, unless the race fills first.
At $45, entry is about 22 percent above a typical 5K in California, which costs $37 right now.
A typical finisher at a 5K in Irvine runs 35:10, about 11:19 a mile, based on 9 races with published results. Women typically finish in 37:55 and men in 31:48.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 6:50 AM, and the 1 Mile starts at 8:00 AM. The start sits about 290 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results (Time Management) for Run for a Claus presented by Optima Tax Relief. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2023 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 26:37 or better, the top quarter in 32:29, and half the field in 39:45; the last tenth came in after 59:55.
At the 2023 1 Mile, the fastest tenth finished in 9:08 or better, the top quarter in 10:43, and half the field in 13:01; the last tenth came in after 20:00.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 20:01 | 16:12 |
| 20-29 | 23:21 | 19:11 |
| 30-39 | 23:17 | 19:47 |
| 40-49 | 21:40 | 18:44 |
| 50-59 | 23:53 | 22:49 |
| 60-69 | 26:59 | 22:36 |
| 70+ | 38:24 | 37:19 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2023.
Slower than most California 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2023 5K field finished under 32:29, against 30:43 in a typical California 5K, so times here run 6 percent slower.
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.
Around December 19 the day usually runs from 50°F at dawn to 65°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% of days. Cold snaps dip to 44°F and hot years reach 75°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.
What the organizers of Run for a Claus presented by Optima Tax Relief cover on their registration page, in brief.
The cause
Encourage your friends or social media followers to register for the event, and run for a cause. How it Works: Get 5 of your friends to register for the race and get $10.00 back. Get 10 of your friends to register for the race and get…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
The OC Marathon Presents the 13th Annual Run For a Claus 5K and Kids 1 Mile Run/Walk benefiting various charity partners as well as our own Kids Run the OC Foundation. All runners will receive a commemorative 2026 giveaway, Santa Hat, a finisher's medal and free race photos. With cookies, costumes, holiday music and decorations, this will be fun for the whole family.
When you Run for a Claus, you can Run for a Cause!