Santa Run for Education 5K Race 2026
- Date
- Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (Denver)
- Location
- Bozeman, Montana
- Entry fee
- From $35
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5K | Dec 5, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Dec 5, 20269:00 AM | $35 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- $35 until Dec 5.
Online registration closes Dec 5, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in Montana, which costs $30 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 5K in Bozeman runs 33:41, about 10:50 a mile, based on 6 races with published results. Women typically finish in 35:22 and men in 31:10.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:48 AM, and the 5K starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 5,460 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
404 W. Main Street, Bozeman, MT 59715
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)Aggregated from official results (Competitive Timing) for Santa Run for Education 5K Race. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Santa Run for Education 5K Race?
In 2025, the fastest tenth finished in 25:58 or better, the top quarter in 30:43, and half the field in 36:22; the last tenth came in after 1:04:25.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 24:14 | 17:51 |
| 20-29 | 30:29 | 32:20 |
| 30-39 | 26:36 | 24:40 |
| 40-49 | 25:58 | 26:14 |
| 50-59 | 27:16 | 28:52 |
| 60-69 | 39:09 | 31:11 |
| 70+ | 52:54 | 42:29 |
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 7 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Santa Run for Education 5K Race 5K year by year
From 2021 to 2025, the field went from 491 to 523 finishers, and the median time rose from 35:23 to 36:22.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 523 (-9%) | 36:22 | under 25:58 | 17:31 |
| 2024 | 575 (+18%) | 36:30 | under 25:00 | 16:46 |
| 2023 | 487 (+40%) | 34:38 | under 24:42 | 17:50 |
| 2022 | 349 (-29%) | 38:15 | under 25:55 | 18:10 |
| 2021 | 491 | 35:23 | under 25:49 | 17:19 |
From each year's official results for the 5K; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Slower than most Montana 5Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:43, against 28:50 in a typical Montana 5K, so times here run 7 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.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 5 the day usually runs from 21°F at dawn to 35°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 24% of days. Cold snaps dip to 7°F and hot years reach 47°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
- 404 W. Main Street, Bozeman, MT 59715Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 5,460 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve T-shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 5, 2026), 2025 (Dec 6, 2025), 2024 (Dec 7, 2024), 2023 (Dec 2, 2023), 2022 (Dec 3, 2022), 2021 (Dec 4, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Santa Run for Education 5K Race?
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 5, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Montana?
- At $35, entry is about 17 percent above a typical 5K in Montana, which costs $30 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, 523 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 36:22 and the winner ran 17:31.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 5K field finished under 30:43, against 28:50 in a typical Montana 5K, so times here run 7 percent slower.
- Where does it start?
- 404 W. Main Street, Bozeman, MT 59715.
From the organizers
Welcome to the 12th Annual Santa Run For Education!
This festive tradition not only kicks off the Christmas Stroll but also champions the mission of the Bozeman Schools Foundation: to ignite inspiration, expand learning, and open doors of opportunity for our students and educators - powered by generous community support. Together, we’re making a lasting impact in our schools by supporting Bozeman’s students, teachers, and the future they’re building. Let’s lace up, dress up, and show up for education!
Prizes:
$1,000 to PACs from the top 3 participating schools in the Gallatin Valley
$500 will be awarded to each of the top 2 participating BSD7 sponsored clubs or teams from any of the BSD7 schools