Holiday Themed Races in Minnesota!
It’s nearly October, which means holiday themed races are right around the corner! Halloween through Christmas blesses us with a plethora of festive events, and many opportunities to dress in ridiculous costumes as we race down city streets.
I personally am not a fan of dressing up for a race. I tried it once as a farmer with overalls and a straw hat. The chafing and itching from the unfamiliar duds stayed with me long enough not to try it again. Perhaps I needed a better costume? Maybe I should have dressed as a professional runner?
As you ponder the rest of your race calendar for the year, consider the following holiday themed races. There’s a little something for everyone, at every distance, and many opportunities to put your costumes to good use.
Halloween Races
The most obvious of costume events, Halloween races tend to be large productions filled with goblins, fairies, and everything in between. You’ll find all manner of people showing up to these events; from very casual fun runners who just want an excuse to dress up, to super speedy runners who, as it turns out, also want an excuse to dress up.
As adults, rarely do we get the opportunity to dress crazy and act a little goofy. A Halloween race is the perfect opportunity to do so without the awkward stares and hushed whispers of trying to trick or treat in your neighborhood. (Adults like candy, too!)
Here are a few other Halloween events around the state this year:
Thanksgiving Races
Before gorging on Thanksgiving dinner, then dozing off into a turkey induced coma, join millions of Americans in an annual turkey trot tradition.
2013 was the first year we weren’t traveling over Thanksgiving, and the first time I experienced the joy of a turkey trot. It was everything I hoped for and more! Running a turkey trot on Thanksgiving makes everything you eat that day taste 100% better, it’s a proven fact.*
The Delta Dental Turkey Day 5K in downtown Minneapolis is the largest of it’s kind (by several thousand runners!). “Since 1989, the Turkey Day Run has brought family and friends together to start the day in a healthy way.” You can register with your whole family; the largest family running will receive a $50 gift card to a local restaurant!
Here are a few other races around the state over the Thanksgiving Holiday season:
Christmas Races
If you’re looking for Christmas themed races, there are fewer to choose from in the Twin Cities area. Perhaps this is because December weather can be unpredictable, or because we all have a million other holiday related things to do.
Either way, a Santa or Ugly Sweater race should be your next fun tradition. The Santas on the Run race, on December 10th in Rochester, is one such event. The fact that everyone who registers gets a Santa suit, and is encouraged to wear it on the run, might make it the most amazing race ever! (Pro tip: save your santa suit and re-use for other costumed running events.)
Here are a few other races around the state over the December Holiday season:
Your Holiday Race
What are some of your favorite holiday races? What makes them special and worth repeating year after year?
