White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Canton

Grab the family and celebrate Christmas Eve morning by joining us for the White Elephant Christmas 5K/10K/Half Marathon!  

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.

We'll be running at Etowah River Park starting at 8:30 am.

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.

In addition to the post-race surprises, we’ll honor performance in the traditional way with awards to the top three male and female finishers in five-year age groups, beginning with 10 & under and continuing through our most experienced participants.

With distances for every level—a festive 5K, a spirited 10K, and a challenging Half Marathon—the White Elephant Run is the perfect way to celebrate the season with humor, heart, and holiday cheer.

Welcome to the White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon—unwrap the fun, embrace the unexpected, and enjoy every mile of this joyful holiday tradition!

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.

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 organiztion's mission while generating much-needed funds to support your cause.

For more information about being the Charity Partner, contact charity@fivestarntp.com. Please include the race name and city in your email.

White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Canton is currently accepting sponsors. For more information, contact Sarah.

Why should you sponsor the White Elephant 5K/10K/Half Marathon - Canton?

1. Develop a relationship with your community.
2. Express your support for a charity.
3. Increase name-recognition in your community.

Preview Registration: (ends 07/26):

-5K: $15
-10K: $20
-Half Marathon: $35
-Virtual Races: $20

Early Bird Registration: (ends 08/26):

-5K: $20
-10K: $25
-Half Marathon: $40
-Virtual Races: $25

Regular Registration: (ends 12/13):

-5K: $25
-10K: $30
-Half Marathon: $45
-Virtual Races: $30

Late Registration: (ends 12/23):

-5K: $27.5
-10K: $32.5
-Half Marathon: $47.5

Race Day Registration:

-5K: $30
-10K: $35
-Half Marathon: $50

*All participants registered by 12/14 are guaranteed race swag in your size. Afterwards, swag will be while supplies last.

*Help with registration then run - save five dollars

We're in Etowah River park for this event. 

Here is a link to the

 5K Course Map

10K Map Course Link

Half Marathon Course Map

Water Stations:

We will have Self-Serve water stations approximately every 1.5 miles. If you are wanting to run fast and not stop, you might want to bring your own personal hydration.

For the White Elephant races, only bibs will be given at race check-in or Early Packet Pickup. We want you to be anticipating your gift. All shirts and finisher medals (the gifts) will be given after athletes cross the finish line, so be sure to go back to registration area to get your gift.

Everyone gets a "white elephant" finisher medal after the cross the finish!

Awards:

• Overall M/F
• Overall Master M/F
• Overall Grand Master M/F
• Overall Senior Master M/F
• Top 3 M/F in all the normal age groups 10 & under - 80+

NOTE:  *Race shirts and finisher medals will be from prior events, we'll do our best to wrap up the size you've requested.  We'll bring out some extra shirts if anyone ends up wanting to "swap out"!

Can't make it out to the event site on race day?

Still want to participate and have a shot at an award? or maybe you saw the shirt and said:  "Sweet...I want one!"  Then the virtual race is for you.  Run when & where you want, just submit your time by end of Race Day.  We'll ship out virtual packages the Monday after event date! *Shipping available for continental US only.

New to Virtual Running?  Here's how it works:

Step 1

Get excited, grab some friends and buddies to join you!  Sign up and register for the White Elephant 5K!

Step 2

Hydrate, grab your buddy (or not) and get ready to get moving!

Step 3

Get out there and run or walk! You can run at the park, your favorite route in your neighborhood; anywhere you want.   Please remember to be safe!

Step 4

HAVE FUN!~

Share your distance, a selfie, or a picture along your race route and use the hashtag #WhiteElephant5K  #fivestarrunning   #fivestarntp

Step 5

Submit your results.

You can submit your race time here anytime until 11:59 PM on event day.

Step 6

View your Results Monday after the Event Date.

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 will be asked to leave the venue and course immediately with no refunds.

All registrations are final. There are no refunds, deferments, or transfers.

Event will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, we will cancel for the safety of the participants...there are no refunds in this case.

Participants that do not show up to race/event forfeit their right to any swag.

No COVID-19 Refunds.  If unforeseen circumstances arise due to COVID-19, including any Federal or State Health Emergency, refunds will not be provided.  The event will go 100% Virtual & shirts will be shipped to participants.

December 24

• 7:30 am:  Check-in & Race Day Registration Opens
• 8:30 am:  Race Starts