Amelia Island Runners announce 2014 Reindeer Run

From information submitted by Derrick Cromer
Amelia Island Runners
November 21, 2014 4:22 p.m.

 

Start of previous Reindeer run
Santa Claus gets a head start at a previous year’s race.

On your marks, get set, RUN … or walk!

The Whimsical Reindeer Run Half Marathon and 5K will once again provide an opportunity for young and old runners and walkers to get in gear for the holiday season. The Reindeer Run is presented annually by the Amelia Island Runners club, a 501(c)(3) organization. Non-members, can sign up now and receive a discount before Dec. 6.  (Club discount not available on Active.com.) 
 Walkers are welcome and must complete the course in 3.5 hours.

The half-marathon and 5K start at 7 a.m. Dec. 7 at Main Beach Park. There will be plenty of holiday goodies for runners and walkers. Half-marathoners will receive a long-sleeve technical t-shirt. Half-marathon finishers also get the finisher’s medal, which will add multiple colors and can double as a Christmas tree ornament. 5K runners will receive a holiday-themed cotton t-shirt designed by a local student.  Professional singer Rick Davis will be returning to sing the National Anthem.

This years medal
This year’s medal

A 1-mile kids’ fun run with Santa will begin at 10 a.m. and half-mile at 10:15, with a 100-yard “Tiny Reindeer Dash” at 10:30. There are no T-shirts for the kids’ fun runs, but all finishers will receive a treat at the finish.   Admission to the kids’ runs is free with a gift donation to Toys for Tots, or $5 without a toy.  Parents or guardians are welcome to run with their kids for free, please just fill out a registration form.   Santa will be running with the kids in the one-mile and half-mile fun runs. A parent or guardian must register each participant. There will also be a “kids’ zone” area with activities to further involve the children.

The half-marathon entry fee is $60 until Dec. 6.  Day of race registration is $75.  5K registration is $20 until Nov. 30, $25 until Dec. 6, and $30 race day.

Packet pickup will be Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1 to 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 801 Atlantic Ave. in Fernandina Beach.  New this year, there will be  race-day registration for the half-marathon and 5K, and for the kids’ runs.  There are no refunds on registrations.

Each year many of the runners and walkers add to the holiday spirit by wearing Christmas-themed costumes, and there will be costume contests this year for both the half-marathon/5K and kids’ runs.

In keeping with the season of giving, the event benefits several nonprofits, including Healthy Start, Friends of Fort Clinch, Toys for Tots and Amelia Island Runners youth programs. The charity the race will be showcasing this year is Girl Power 2 Cure.  This charity helps girls and their families suffering from Rett Syndrome, a severe neurological  disorder that almost exclusively affects girls.

For more information on Amelia Island Runners, the 2014 Reindeer Race and other activities planned for the day visit http://www.ameliarunners.com/#!reindeer-run/c10e8 or call Pattee Boler at 904-491-4959.