Every December, there are a ton of 5k options. This year, I chose the Ugly Sweater Run from Red Rock Running Company. I was already booked the day of the Great Santa Run, so this was it. Since I’m a sucker for all things vintage Vegas, this year’s shirt made it a must-do.
The race had a 5k and 10k option, and it sold out in both options.
Packet Pickup was at the North Las Vegas RRRC store and was super quick, just the shirt and bib and off you go. You could also pickup at the race site, but I wanted my shirt for a Christmas party, so got it in advance. I was glad I did, because it was just a smidge too small for me. I was fortunate enough to swap from a women’s L to a men’s L on race day, and that solved the problem. If you like a women’s cut shirt, sign up early! There were zero extra women’s shirts, but a small amount of men’s in multiple sizes.
The Ugly Sweater Run
The Ugly Sweater Run was at Floyd Lamb Park on the northwest side of town. Floyd Lamb is a fantastic park with a bunch of cool things to see – but that’s not where the route took us.
Instead, we went around the back, away from the ponds and people and into more wilderness. There were some cute bridges with overhanging tree branches, and a fantastic view of the mountains on the final half-mile. You even can peek into a small orchard in the last mile.
The course is very flat, and the path is nice and wide. It’s also hard-packed dirt and gravel. It’s absolutely fine in regular running shoes – trail shoes would be overkill.
Post-Race and Swag
Immediate post-race recovery was non-existent. No water, bananas, nothing. That’s par for the course for an RRRC race. But the mood was good, and the location close to grocery stores and restaurants if you want a post-race meal.
The swag for the Ugly Sweater Race was the big reason for signing up and running. I now have a complete set of long-sleeved technical shirts, and I finally have something worthy of the name “ugly sweater”.
The medal reflects the shirt, featuring Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. This is one medal that’s a keeper for me!
Ugly Sweater Run 5K: The Rat Pack Approves
The race gets you in to Floyd Lamb Park for free, a $6 value, and is a great excuse to explore the park after the run. It routes along lesser-used trails, giving us as runners space and avoiding issues with other park visitors. The scenery is good, and the swag excellent. Would run again!
