Reindeer Run 5K

The Reindeer Run is a holiday-season 5K, 10K, and 15K around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. It has been part of the Minnesota running calendar since 1987, with the longer races starting early and the 5K run/walk following later in the morning. The course stays centered on Lake Harriet, giving runners a straightforward city-lake route rather than a point-to-point race. The day leans into Christmas: runners show up in costumes, participants can take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and Rudolph, and finishers receive a medal, with shirts included and age-group awards also part of the event.