NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K
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Event overview
The NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K is a road race in Central Park, New York, on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The event has been held since 2014. The race distance is 5K and the course is USATF-certified. Awards are given to the top three overall male, female, and non-binary finishers by gun time, and to the top three in each age group by net time in the age categories listed in the event information. Results will be emailed and the full results posted online after the race.
Course and race logistics
The course starts near 89th Street on West Drive, heads south to 72nd Street, then north on East Drive and finishes at the 102nd Street Crossing. There is a hydration station and bathrooms just before Mile 2. Medical assistance will be available on course. Start corrals are located at 89th Street on West Drive and are assigned by pace using a letter system (AA-F); corral assignment appears on the race bib. Handcycle and Wheelchair divisions are offered and entrants are entered if their account designation reflects those divisions.
Amenities, access and policies
Bag check requires a single clear bag (NYCRUNS can provide an 18" x 24" clear bag if needed). Bathrooms are available on the 96th Street ramp to West Drive. Finish-line refreshments include water, Gatorade, bagel options and an apple. Race singlets are distributed on race day and a finisher medal is provided. Mass transit is recommended; the Festival Area is at the 102nd Street Crossing near the North Meadow ballfields. The event follows a no-refunds, no-transfers policy; members have specific withdrawal and bib-mailing options. Strollers and dogs are not allowed. Time limits apply for course support and official finish times. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
