Santa’s Sleigh Half Marathon
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2026 Santa’s Sleigh 5k & Half
The event takes place on December 20 in Georgetown and at Fletcher’s Boathouse along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal path. Two race distances are offered:
- Half Marathon, out-and-back on the C&O Canal, light gravel, minimal elevation
- 5K, out-and-back on the C&O Canal path, light gravel, flat trail
Both races use out-and-back courses on a light gravel dirt trail with little change in elevation. The half marathon begins and ends in Georgetown near the Potomac Boat Club; the 5K begins and ends at Fletcher’s Boathouse. Walkers and strollers are welcome. A virtual race option is available for those who cannot attend in person.
The event is chip timed. Registered runners receive a finisher’s medal and a technical DriFit event shirt. Water stations are provided along the courses: seven stations on the half marathon at approximately miles 1.55, 3.8, 4.3, 6.55, 8.8, 9.3 and 11.55, and one station on the 5K at approximately mile 1.55; Gatorade is available at some stations. Final results and series points are posted after the race and live results are available during the event.
Points from these races count toward the Year-Long 5K, Endurance, Back of the Pack Series and the Fall Series. The Back of the Pack series groups runners with higher average finish times so they can earn series points together. Packet pickup is available the day before at Road Runner Sports in Arlington from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. There is no on-site race registration. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
