The Santa Run

Dad and Blaise headed out to Whaikane (sp) to do the kite surfing thing and I hung out with my mom. I had in passing glanced at something called the "Wendy's Santa Run" a charity 2.5km run where all the participants wear felt Santa suits. I can't even remember where i saw the info but when i told co-workers and the like about it they all said pretty much the same thing "i've never heard of that."

I think they need better advertising.

So we headed down to the wharf and as we got closer we could hear amplified voices on a PA system. Well i thought this had to be the right place. As we tried to get our bearings on where they would run from I glanced left to the wooden bridge that connects the water to the city. Like a train of ants ran a bunch of people in red, zig zagging in lines down the ramps. This was definitely the right spot. As mom and I debated whether to walk over there the fastest of the pack came out right beside us, as luck would have it we were on the running route.

We took a few pictures, male santas, female santas, little santas and a few little elves.


They did their run around Te Papa and came back along our path and headed to the finish line. A couple of Santas stuck out, the group of moms with their babies in prams, they had decorated them up with gold garlands and the older child had a fairy outfit on and a decorated push scooter to use. A couple who upon their run back decided they were warm and they took a dive off the pier into the water below, we tried to get a photo but they jumped to fast. And finally the lady we will refer to as chesty Claus. I'm sure she was going for a costume prize but two rules 1) think about body appropriateness and 2) if you can't jog in it why did you design it.

The only time she moved faster than a walk was the last 20 meters to the finish line.

Still a pretty fun thing to watch and every jogger seemed to have a good time. If you are Wellington next December check it out.