NYCRUNS Ugly Sweater 5K
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NYCRUNS Ugly Sweater 5K
The NYCRUNS Ugly Sweater 5K is a themed road race held at Prospect Park in Brooklyn on December 5, 2026. The event distance is 5K and the course covers just under one full loop of the park with a final sprint up Center Drive. All NYCRUNS courses are USATF-certified.
A Festival Area is located in the Nethermead and is accessible via Center Drive or walking paths off Well House Drive. Start corrals are pace-based and assigned by letter (AA-F); the corrals are situated on Well House Drive. Bag check is available using one single clear bag (provided if needed, size 18" x 24"). Portable bathrooms will be on site. Water is provided on course, with Gatorade and water available at the finish. Post-race refreshments include bagels with schmear and fresh fruit. Every participant receives an official race tech shirt, available for pick up on race day only. A finisher medal and race photos are provided; one photo per runner is available as a free download.
Bibs are distributed in the Festival Area on race day using a unique QR code issued the week of the race. NYCRUNS members may opt to have bibs mailed when registration occurs 20 or more days before the event to U.S. addresses; shirts are not mailed with bibs. Mass transit is recommended; closest subway stops include the S and Q at Prospect Park and the F and G at 15th St-Prospect Park. Citi Bike stations and nearby bus stops are listed in event directions. Bike parking in the Festival Area and locking to NYCRUNS signage are prohibited.
Handcycle and wheelchair divisions are accepted; athletes in those divisions will be entered automatically when their account reflects that designation and should arrive early for bib pick-up and staging. NYCRUNS members receive a 10% entry discount and may use race credit toward registration. Registration closes the day before the race or earlier if capacity is reached.
Results are posted after the race. Awards are given to the top three male, female, and non-binary finishers overall by gun time, and to the top three in each listed age group by net/chip time. The event is part of the NYCRUNS Local Elite Athlete Race Entry Program and includes qualifying standards for complimentary future entries. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
