Proceeds and awareness from the Reindeer Run help support early education efforts in Chatham County!
Our USATF certified course will start at Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) and head towards downtown Pittsboro and then loop back to finish at CCCC.
History
The Reindeer Run began on December 14, 2005, with fewer than 100 participants and has since grown to over 600 runners in recent years. Initially funded by the Pittsboro Area Health Initiative (P.A.H.I.) and supported by the Town of Pittsboro, the race was inspired by representatives of Governor Mike Easley and the launch of the Active Chatham and Healthy Chatham initiatives. Founding members from these efforts laid the groundwork, with current committee members including Don & Marian Lein, Bill Bussey, and Joe Ellen. In 2015, the Chatham County Partnership for Children took over the event, continuing to grow and strengthen it with the community’s support. That first year also introduced Rudolph’s Fun Run, designed to promote physical activity in young children and foster family engagement.
In 2018, Chatham County Partnership For Children and the Reindeer Run committee decided to utilize the race’s funds to provide physical grants. The proceeds from the Reindeer Run provides grants that primarily focus on supporting physical activity projects in the community.
2025 Physical Grant Cycle: The Reindeer Run Physical Activity Grant officially launched on March 7th, with applications due by March 30th. The Reindeer Committee—a dedicated group of volunteers and staff from the Chatham County Partnership for Children—reviewed all applications and selected recipients in April, with awardees announced in May. The total amount granted has now been determined and will be distributed among selected organizations. Nonprofits, churches, and childcare centers were encouraged to apply, and each application was carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. Programs that promoted physical activity across all age groups in the community were prioritized. Applicants were encouraged to thoughtfully identify and communicate their most important needs in their proposals.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Jazmin Mendoza Sosa, Communications and Development Coordinator, at jazmin@chathamkids.org.
Thank you for helping to spread the word about this opportunity!
Saturday December 13th, 2025
The Reindeer Run 5K will begin promptly at 8:00 AM for all runners.
We strongly encourage participants to attend one of our packet pickup events during the week leading up to the race to help race day run smoothly and avoid delays.
Race Day registration will close at 7:45 AM, so please plan to arrive early to ensure you have time to pick up your race bib and find parking.
Rudolph’s Fun Run
Get ready for big smiles and little feet flying—Rudolph’s Fun Run is back! This joyful mini-race is perfect for our youngest runners, taking place entirely on the CCCC campus with an easy, fun ¾-mile course. The race kicks off at 9:00 AM, and every child who crosses the finish line will be greeted by Rudolph and friends with a medal. When you register, you’ll also have the option to order a race t-shirt. No Need to attend packet pickup events for this one unless you want the t-shirt before the race; all other Fun Run items will be handed out on race day. It’s a festive, feel-good way to get kids moving and make unforgettable memories!
Event Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Sponsorship Package Available in May
Join us in making a meaningful impact by becoming a sponsor of the 2025 Reindeer Run! This beloved community event draws hundreds of participants and families, offering your business valuable exposure both leading up to the race and on event day. By committing early, you’ll maximize your visibility through months of promotional materials, social media, and community outreach.
Sponsorship isn’t just great publicity—it’s also a powerful way to give back. Proceeds from the Reindeer Run go directly to local organizations that promote physical activity and wellness throughout Chatham County. Your support helps build a healthier, more connected community.
Ready to get involved? Email us at racedirector@chathamkids.org to become a 2025 Reindeer Run sponsor!
Register Early!
Individual runners can register until race day, December 13th; however, please note that shirts are only guaranteed for entries received by November 21st. While we’ll do our best to accommodate all participants, those who register after the packet production deadline in early December may not receive a full race packet. Don’t miss out—register early to secure your shirt and all the race-day goodies!
Teams
Teams consist of 5 or more members, and team time is calculated by adding together the finish times of the fastest three runners. You can register your team online—either all at once using a single credit card or one by one with separate payments. Teams must be registered by December 8th; no team registrations will be accepted after this date.
Please note: Team members who register after November 21st will not be guaranteed a race t-shirt, so encourage your group to sign up early!
School Teams
School Teams is reserved for groups from our local schools, including students and staff. Parents are welcome to register alongside their child(ren) in this category.
Teams must be register by December 8th. Teams register after November 21st will not be guaranteed a race t-shirt, so encourage your group to sign up early!
Shirts & Awards
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Individual Overall, Individual Age Groups, and Teams.
Shirts are guaranteed only for participants who register by November 21st. Once our order is submitted, t-shirt sizes cannot be exchanged or changed. However, up until November 21st, you can adjust your shirt size through your RunSignup account/registration.
Race Location
Central Carolina Community College
764 West St, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Volunteer
Interested in volunteering for the Reindeer Run? Please visit the link below for a list of available volunteer opportunities. Please email our Race Director if you should have any questions.
https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Pittsboro/ReindeerRun11th
Packet Pick-up at Central Carolina Community College-Pittsboro Campus
Early packet pickup will be available on December 10th and 11th from 5–7 PM at Central Carolina Community College, Building 41. The primary location for packet pickup will be at the student center on the CCCC campus. Specific details will be emailed closer to race day. Packets can also be picked up on race day, but we highly encourage early pickup to help make race day smoother.
If you are running with a team: Please be prepared to pick up packets for your whole team at one time.
School Teams: Please coordinate with the Communications and Development Coordinator to get all of your packets at once prior to the race.
Race Day Registration
Race day registration is limited to Individual 5k runners and Fun Run participants. Shirts will not be available for these registrations.
