Jingle 5K

This flat and fast 5K course will take runners along the streets of downtown Washington, DC, taking in gorgeous views of the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River. The start and finish lines are located on Ohio Drive SW, directly next to the West Potomac Park softball fields, 2912 Independence Ave SW. 

Kick off the holiday season with this fun and festive fitness celebration!

POST RACE FESTIVITIES

• Will be held adjacent to the start / finish line on Ohio Dr SW, directly next to the West Potomac Park softball fields!

• Post race refreshments and water will be available just past the finish line. Please make your way through the finish area once you have collected your medal and refreshments. You will not be allowed to wait at the finish line for family/friends. Please plan to meet outside of the finish line area in the surrounding park.

• Features of the post race area includes photo backdrops and lots of congratulating.

RESULTS AND AWARDS

• All 5K race FINISHERS will be awarded a finisher medal.

• Results will be immediately posted online - accessible by cell phone or computer.    

• Final results for overall, age group and category awards will be declared no later than one week post-race, and will be emailed to winners. 

AWARDS CATEGORIES

• Top 3 Overall—Male, Female, Non-Binary

   

• Top 3 Age Groups—Male, Female

   

• 1–7, 8–10, 11–14, 15–19, 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80+

   

• "None" indicated gender racers will not be eligible for any awards but will have results presented in overall order.

RUNNING WITH YOUR DOG

If you will be participating with a dog, we will ask you in registration to please acknowledge that you agree to abide by the following safety guidelines: 

• Insure that your dog is on a non-retractable leash no longer than 5ft. We have to require that dogs must remain on-leash at all times before, during and after the race - safety and park rules!

• When participating with your dog, you must line up at the back of the pack and navigate around other participants safely and with the utmost caution.

• Be aware of your surroundings, respect others on course, and use good decision making skills and good sportsmanlike conduct at all times.

RUNNING WITH A STROLLER

• Pacers Running believes a fit family is a happy family and allows strollers on course for the Jingle 15K & 5K.  Safety requirements include that strollers must start in the back, may not weave through packs of runners, and must always yield the right of way to other runners.

• Youngsters will not be required to register as long as they remain in the stroller for the entire duration of the race. If you anticipate that at any point your child/children will be moving on the course out of the stroller and under their own power, then they will need to register. This is for the safety of all participants.

The start / finish line for both races is located on Ohio Dr SW, directly next to the West Potomac Park softball fields.

GETTING TO THE RACE

Metro

• Metro opens at 6AM on Sundays. 

• The nearest metro stations are: Smithsonian station (Orange, Blue & Silver lines); and L'Enfant Plaza station (Orange, Blue, Silver, Yellow & Green lines).

PARKING

• Note that there is limited street parking.

SUGGESTED DROP OFF LOCATIONS 

If you plan on being dropped off at the start line, we suggest two locations. 

• 23rd Street SW and Independence Ave

• West Basin Dr and Independence Ave

• Please remember you will need to allow for time to walk to the start line.

Pacers Running realizes that in life curveballs come our way every-so-often making it necessary for a change in plans. As you complete your race entry, know that you have some options in case this happens to you.
 

REFUNDS

• Except for an Active-Duty requirement and the 'No Questions Asked' refund ticket purchase, no refunds of entry monies is offered once a registration transaction is complete.

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, FIRE-RESCUE

• In addition to being offered a courtesy entry discount, if a required duty shift requires missing the race, providing verification of that schedule will grant a full refund of entry monies paid. Email events@runpacers.com to request a refund.

NQA – NO QUESTIONS ASKED REFUND TICKET

• You may purchase the 'No Questions Asked' refund ticket—only at the time of initial registration—for $20 up to midnight November 02, 2025. 

• The NQA refund ticket covers paid entry costs and add-ons, but not additional direct donations, and bank or processing fees collected that the race did not ever receive. 

• You can request that NQA refund action up to midnight December 12, 2025 in advance of race date.

• NQA is eligible only for all new 2025 entries exclusive of complimentary registrations. Email events@runpacers.com to redeem.

TRANSFER OF ENTRY TO A DIFFERENT RUNNER 

• Up until midnight December 1, 2025 you can transfer your entry as a "Gift" to a different runner. You can complete this yourself through your RunSignup profile. The new runner will pay a $20 fee to the race and must complete the new transferred entry by midnight December 8, 2025 (any other payment arrangements are between you and the new runner).

DEFERRAL OF ENTRY

• You are able to defer your active entry to the same race in the one-next-following year for a $30 fee up to December 1, 2025. You can complete this for yourself through your RunSignup profile.

EVENT MANDATED EVENT CANCELLATION

• While we are optimistic that the extraordinary times requiring exceptional health and safety measures have come to a close, in the case that Pacers chooses to cancel an event through an abundance of caution for athletes, staff, and spectators, a plan of action for options to receive commensurate values for paid race entries will be crafted and communicated in all haste. 

• The plan may require choice responses from registered active status participants, so please be aware of potential incoming direct email, updates via our main website, registration site, and our social media platforms with information on how to respond.  

• There is NO RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP. 

• Remember that race bib and gift item collection must be completed in advance of the Jingle 5K.   Bibs are not offered on race day. Please plan to attend packet pick up at one of the locations, dates, times listed below. 

LOCATION, DATES & TMES

PACERS RUNNING NAVY YARD (300 Tingey St SE, #160, Washington DC 20003)

• Saturday (ONLY), December 13, 2025:  11:00am-6:00pm

Date(s) and time(s) are subject to change. Pre-race email communication will be sent with any updates.

PACKET

• A packet includes a race bib with timing tag affixed on the back, safety pins, a clear gear bag for race day, and the race gift choice of a Jingle Beanie or $10 Retail Bucks.

• Each registration is offered one gift item - please make your selection carefully.

MULTIPLES AND GROUPS

• If you are not able to pick up your own packet, Pacers Running allows for someone else to pick up for a runner.

• Please make sure that all runners involved know their packets are being collected as duplicates cannot be issued. For courtesy reasons we limit pick up to one plus five – your own packet plus 5 for family and friends. 

• For groups larger than 5, please contact our customer service team at events@runpacers.com to make advance accommodations.

Remember that there is NO RACE DAY new registration or packet pick up.

RACE GIFT

Each registration is offered a race gift included in the cost of entry, one gift per registrant. Registrants can select from the following two options:

• A custom Jingle Beanie (one size fits all)

• $10 Pacers Running Retail Bucks card

Please note, the Jingle Beanie or Pacers Running $10 Retail Bucks will (only) be provided at packet pick up. 

Retail Bucks card codes can be used as follows:

• A $10 Pacers Retail Bucks card code is good towards any item in store except for gift cards. Yes, any item! We regret it is not valid on special orders.

• There is no cash value to Pacers Retail Bucks so you must spend at least $10 (pre-tax) to use the full value.

• Not valid on race registrations.

• Pacers Running Retail Bucks for the 2025 Jingle 5K are valid through March 31st, 2026. 

• Pacers Running Retail Bucks are limited to only one per participant and cannot be combined with other Retail Bucks or discount codes.

• Pacers Running Retail Bucks are valid on all products in store or online except for Pacers gift cards.

  
  
  

REFER YOUR FRIENDS and Earn Entry Discounts!

• Invite your friends to join you at the Jingle 5K! 

• For every 3 people who use your unique referral link as they complete their own entry through December 1, you will receive an automatic credit back of $20.00—up to the amount you paid for your registration fee. 

• Keep an eye out for your referral link included in your entry confirmation and share it with all your running buddies! 

DIRECT MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS

• Pacers Running is pleased to offer direct Military and First Responder entry cost discounts to all races. Family or extended family is not included in these discounts. Please email events@runpacers.com noting your service division and current status to receive $10 off your entry fee into the Jingle 5K. Please bring your military/first responder ID to packet pick up for confirmation. Thank you for your service. 

ELITE PRO RUNNERS

• Please connect by email to events@runpacers.com and include a screen shot or direct url link to your specific qualifying times for consideration. 

AWD AS SOLO AND DUO REGISTRANTS

• Pacers encourages all AWD and Challenged participants.  For our safety-first race day planning, please identify your AWD status in the question asked as you complete your entry. If you might need any special accommodations for your participation, please connect by email to events@runpacers.com.

• AWD duos are offered a complimentary entry for one of the two runners—i.e. a guide for a visually impaired runner, a pusher for a push-chair duo. Please connect by email to events@runpacers.com providing runner information to receive a registration code.

GENDER IDENTIFICATION

• For purposes of timing-results-scoring-awards, please tell us as you complete your registration how you choose to be identified in your race --   " I want to be identified as " ----

ADD ON - RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP 

A limited number of Race Day Packet collection opportunities are being offered for the 2025 Jingle 5K race as a registration addon purchase.  These packets can be collected race morning from 6:30 AM thru 7:45 AM in the main start area.  
This option is available for purchase up thru December 1, 2025 or until sold out.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION UPDATES

• Need to update your registration choices and responses?  

  Your first-ever registration in RunSignup creates a PROFILE. This profile will auto-populate your race entries as you register. If you need to change basic bio info in your Profile—like address, preferred Gender identification, best email contact, giveaway size—you need to do this for yourself through your RunSignup profile. Click here for instructions on making profile updates.

• Once a race entry is complete, you can make changes in your race-specific choices and responses yourself through the dates available for the race.  After that date is passed, email events@runpacers.com to make important updates.   

Here are the most common questions with direct links to RunSignup tutorials:

I need to have my Confirmation Email resent

I need to change my race Gift Item

I need to switch/transfer from one distance event to another?

I need to transfer my registration to another person

I need to reset my RunSignUp password

• Once a race entry is complete, you can make changes in your race-specific choices and responses through the dates available for the race. After that date is passed, email events@runpacers.com to make important updates.   

'NO QUESTIONS ASKED' REFUND TICKET (NQA)

• You may purchase the NQA ticket—only at the time of initial registration—up to November 1, 2025 in advance of race date. The ticket covers paid entry costs, but not additional direct donations, and bank or processing fees collected that the race did not ever receive.

• You can request that NQA refund action up to December 12.  NQA is eligible only for all new 2025 entries exclusive of complimentary registrations. Email events@runpacers.com if you find you need to redeem the ticket.

FUN FACT ABOUT YOU!

• Please take a minute to share a fun fact about yourself that we can announce as you cross the finish line!  There is a 50 character limit.  Short, sweet, and to the point!  Share your fun fact with us as you register and we will do our best to make your finish line experience a truly memorable one.

Follow this link to view the 2024 Race Results!!
CLICK HERE

2024 race photos are available from SwimBikeRun!
All photos are available to download for free.

Click Here

Follow this link to view the 2023 Race Results!!

CLICK HERE

2023 race photos are available from SwimBikeRun!

All photos are available to download for free.

CLICK HERE

START LINE

• The start / finish line for the 5K is located on Ohio Dr SW, directly next to the West Potomac Park softball fields.

BAG DROP

• Bag drop will be located near the start / finish line on the festival grounds near the start / finish line.  

• You will be able to use the CLEAR gear bag provided to you at packet pick up.

• Only clear bags will be allowed to be left in Bag Drop please!

• Bags must be collected post-race by 10:00 am.

CUT OFFS

• All Pacers Running events require a participant to maintain a 15 minute per mile pace (or faster) to meet our venue permit requirements. 

• For the 5K - which starts earlier than the 15K and will be on the same close-in route as the 15K -  the pace can be a bit more relaxed. 

• The finish of the 5K will be on the right-hand side of the same road as the start of the 15K. 

• With a concentrated safety-minded route, more mellow 5K finishers can stay to the right-hand side allowing finishers and starters to easily pass by each other. 

• The timing for scoring the 5K will not be unlimited though, so a pace in the range of 15 minutes per mile should be planned as a target. 

USATF COURSE CERTIFICATION ***

• The 5K course is USATF certified as DC24008RT.

AID STATIONS

• The water stop located at the 5K turnaround will provide water.

• Restrooms will be available near the start / finish line. Restrooms are on course at the water stop. Each water stop includes at least one ADA accessible unit.

• There will be a medical tent and personnel at the water stop.