10/12/19 – Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I’ve wanted to do a Santa Dash for a few years now, however my darling husband – the original Christmas Grinch – has always muttered something about not wanting to be seen dead in Santa suit, never mind running in one. In retrospect, I’m really not sure why I felt that it was something we should do together. Something to do with safety in numbers, I guess.

So, when our ‘Football Fwiend’ Michelle told me that she had signed up to do one in Brockwell Park with her Mum, I decided to enter myself for the 10k option. It was also a bonus that said Husband was away up north with Jim Bob on tour for most of the week leading up to the run, I wouldn’t be getting it in the neck.

The morning dawned clear and bright, but with a biting wind. As I made my way to Herne Hill on the train, I was surrounded by lots of people already in Santa suits. I had to pick one up when I got there as mine hadn’t turned up in the post. I joined a large queue of other people doing the same and finally collected my outfit rather too close to race start than I would have liked.

I hadn’t really thought about the difficulties of trying to put the suit on whilst standing up with only 10 mins to the start of the run. In the end, I ditched the trousers and hat, opting to just wear the coat. One size fits all meant they were very big.

I made my way to the start and just got there as the lead Santas were heading off. It was a strange sight watching 3000 Santa’s heading up the hill!

A worringly short way into the run, I recalled how tough this course is having done a 10k here previously as I wound my way up the first hill. I soon passed Mich and her Mum on the downhill stretch. They had adopted a walk/walk strategy as opposed to my run/walk.

I also quickly discovered running in costume, even a cut down one, brings its own problems. The belt became loose on a regular basis and the coat also became very hot after a while. The other issue was dodging the ‘traffic’ at the narrower points. With many families out doing the one mile and 5k option, the turnround point was especially busy. All that said, once I settled into the run, I did quite enjoy it.

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I got a nice surprise with just over a mile to go as I was running down the hill I spotted Neil waiting for me, who had driven back to London home that morning. He joined me on the final mile for his daily mile-minimum run and spurred me on to my quickest mile split of the run. I was, however, less impressed when he beasted me up the last hill.

It wasn’t ever going to be my quickest 10k ever but was pleased to have done finally done a Santa Run. It’s also the furthest I have run since York, so good to get some miles in the legs. I’m looking to get another 10k in before our last race of the year the Staplehurst 10 miler on the Sunday after Christmas.

P.S. The missing Santa Costume turned up the next day… now, despite his best efforts at avoidance, Neil has a Santa costume all of his own.