NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin 5K
The event takes place on January 4, 2026, in Central Park, New York. Distance: 5K. The course is USATF-certified. The start area and festival are located near the 102nd Street Crossing and the North Meadow ballfields.
Course, logistics and services
The course begins near 89th Street on West Drive, heads south, turns at 72nd Street, then runs north up East Drive and finishes on the 102nd Street Crossing. There is a hydration station and bathrooms just before Mile 2, and medical assistance is available along the course. The Start Corrals are on West Drive at 89th Street and use a pace-based letter system (AA-F); corral assignments appear on the race bib.
On-site services include bag check with a single clear-bag requirement, bathrooms at the 96th Street ramp, on-course and finish hydration including canned smartwater, and post-race fruit and bagels. Swag distribution on race day includes a shirt and a finishers medal; singlet pickup is race-day only and sizes are not guaranteed. Race photos will be provided by MarathonFoto a few days after the event. Bibs are available for pick-up in the Festival Area on race day; mailed bibs are available for members or for an added fee if registered at least 20 days before the event and sent to a U.S. address. Handcycle and Wheelchair divisions are included and are set by account designation. Results will be emailed and posted online. Awards: top three male, female, and non-binary overall by gun time, plus age-group awards by net time across listed age brackets. Standard no-refund, no-transfer policies apply; strollers and dogs are not allowed and earbuds may affect eligibility. Mass transit is recommended; street parking is limited. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.