Schedule and packet pickup
Event Schedule
November 29. Last day to register to try to get a shirt in your requested size. December 6. 8:00 am.Check-in & Race Day Registration Opens. 9:00 am.Races Start.
White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Chattanooga 2026
- Date
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $37.50 on Nov 29, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 10K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $35$37.50 after Nov 29, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $30$32.50 after Nov 29, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $45$47.50 after Nov 29, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 10KVirtual | 10K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $30 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $30 | – |
| Virtual Half MarathonVirtual | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20269:00 AM | $30 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Register on RunSignup
The 10K fee goes up to $37.50 on Nov 29, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 10K: $35 until Nov 28, then $37.50 until Dec 5, then $40 until Dec 6.
- 5K: $30 until Nov 28, then $32.50 until Dec 5, then $35 until Dec 6.
- Half Marathon: $45 until Nov 28, then $47.50 until Dec 5, then $55 until Dec 6.
Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $45, entry is about 31 percent below a typical half marathon in Tennessee, which costs $65 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Chattanooga runs 2:13:50, about 10:13 a mile, based on 12 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:19:01 and men in 2:04:30.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:34 AM, and the 10K starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 780 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Shelter #1 Tennessee Riverwalk, Chattanooga, TN 37406
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results5K
38
finishers
33:08
median (10:40 /mi)
21:24
winning time
58% / 42%
women / men
Half Marathon
26
finishers
2:08:41
median (9:49 /mi)
1:29:22
winning time
73% / 27%
women / men
10K
18
finishers
1:00:45
median (9:47 /mi)
45:16
winning time
67% / 33%
women / men
Aggregated from official results (Five Star NTP) for White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Chattanooga. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Chattanooga?
At the 2025 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 24:22 or better, the top quarter in 27:18, and half the field in 33:08; the last tenth came in after 44:38.
At the 2025 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:49:29 or better, the top quarter in 1:52:50, and half the field in 2:08:41; the last tenth came in after 3:02:09.
At the 2025 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 51:27 or better, the top quarter in 54:08, and half the field in 1:00:45; the last tenth came in after 1:46:59.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 30-39 | 31:58 | 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.
Typical race-day weather
Around December 6 the day usually runs from 36°F at dawn to 56°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 31% of days. Cold snaps dip to 28°F and hot years reach 67°F.
Based on 65 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 White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Chattanooga cover on their registration page, in brief.
Schedule and packet pickup
Packet Pickup
We always do packet pickup on race morning starting one hour prior to the start of the race. If we have an early pickup available, it will be added here.
Course
Course & Timing
The course will follow the Tennessee River walk, so it's pretty flat. 5K Course. 10K Course. Half Marathon Course (2 Laps). Water Stations: We will have Self-Serve water stations approximately every 1.5 miles. If you are wanting to run…
Shirt and medal
Awards & Goodies
Everyone gets a "white elephant" finisher medal after the cross the finish! Awards: Top 3 Overall M/F. Top 3 Overall Master M/F. Top 3 Overall Grand Master M/F. Top 3 Overall Senior Master M/F. Top 3 M/F in all the normal age groups 10 &…
Rules and FAQ
Event Courtesy & Refund Policy
Our events are designed to be fun for the entire family. With that in mind; any competitor, spectator, parent, volunteer, or sponsor, exhibiting unsportsmanlike. conduct or interfering with the positive, competitive atmosphere of the event…
The cause
Charity Partner
Five Star NTP is seeking a Charity Partner to join forces for this exciting event. This collaboration offers a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about your organization's mission while generating much-needed funds to support your…
Race details
- Where
- Shelter #1 Tennessee Riverwalk, Chattanooga, TN 37406Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 780 feet
- Included with entry
- T-shirt (from a prior race)
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 5K, 10K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 6, 2026), 2025 (Dec 7, 2025)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Chattanooga?
- Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $37.50 on Nov 29, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 6, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for Tennessee?
- At $45, entry is about 31 percent below a typical half marathon in Tennessee, which costs $65 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, 10K, Half Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 38 runners finished the 5K; the median finish was 33:08 and the winner ran 21:24.
- Where does it start?
- Shelter #1 Tennessee Riverwalk, Chattanooga, TN 37406.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on MapMyRun; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Get ready for a holiday race with a playful twist! Welcome to the White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon—the event inspired by everyone’s favorite gift-swapping tradition, where surprises, silliness, and a little friendly chaos make the fun. Just like the classic holiday game, this race celebrates the joy of “re-gifting,” transforming leftover treasures into unforgettable memories.
Athletes will select their preferred shirt size at registration, but the actual shirt remains a mystery until after the race. When you cross the finish line, you’ll unwrap your very own surprise bundle—a race shirt and finisher medal from a previous event, packaged White Elephant–style for a fun and festive reveal. We'll be dashing along the Tennessee River Trail starting at 9:00 am.