Be sure to check out my blog for my full race recap and see how my costume came together: http://thriftyrunner.blogspot.com/2015/12/jingle-all-way-5k-race-recap-and.html

This was my fourth time in a row running this race. I ran it the two years as an 8k and this was the race's second year as a 5k. (They cut down the distance due to construction, but now I think they might be doing it because people liked the new course so much. At least I definitely do!)

The course is nice and flat so it's really easy. The turnaround point is at the U.S. Capitol building so you get a chance to see the Congressional Christmas tree! It's also easy to get to by metro if you use the Federal Triangle stop it's a short walk to the starting and finishing area. (There are also some parking garages nearby as well, but metro is definitely easiest!) Before and after the race there are impromptu dance parties on Freedom Plaza.

If you do this race, definitely dress up!! My favorite part of getting ready for the race is the costume. I literally spend all year gathering lights and Christmasy anything to get my costume ready. (The attached picture is my costume from 2015.) If you enter the costume contest it definitely needs to be completely over the top. One year the winner of the individual costume contest was a Christmas tree made out of an egg crate mattress pad and spray painted.