Holiday Hot Cocoa Hustle 5K

Holiday Hot Cocoa Hustle 5K is run at Reid Merrill Park in Eagle, Idaho on December 12, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m. The course is a flat out-and-back along the Greenbelt, the race is chip timed, and awards are handed out by age group. Part of every entry fee and all additional donations go to Girls on the Run Treasure Valley, with the event also supporting local running teams and clubs. It's a single-distance morning built around a fast, uncomplicated 5K.

A flat out-and-back is close to ideal if you want an honest 5K time, because you can check your pace at the turnaround and know exactly what the second half demands. Aim to reach that halfway point feeling like you have something left, then work the return. Preparation is modest: four to six weeks of running three or four times a week, one session of intervals slightly faster than goal pace, and easy running elsewhere. Add a good ten-minute warm-up, since Idaho mornings in December are cold enough to keep muscles tight at the line.