With the holiday season starting, it’s time again for the annual Reindeer Run. Held at Bishop Park once again, the Reindeer Run is a 5K and 1K for people of all ages.
The Reindeer Run raises money for the Saline Country Imagination Library, an organization that was founded by Dolly Parton that gives free books to children of ages 0-5 years each month until they have 60 books in their home library. Not all children have the opportunity to read, so this will help jump start children’s literacy education and pave way to success in their school.
“While I won’t be able to join others in this race, I love getting to see and run with all of the different people,” junior Katie Lynch said.
The 5K race will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sat. Nov. 16, followed by the 1K immediately after.
While the race occurs, there will be a “Grinch Chase” for the 5K participants, and a “Catch the Grinch” for the 1K participants.
The Grinch Chase is a special event where “Grinches” will hide along designated portions of the course and try to steal runner’s flags. A runner’s goal is to finish the race with all of their flags, which they will receive flags when they register. If a participant does not wish to join in that part of the race, they do not wear flags.
Catch the Grinch is an event for participants in the 1K where they try to chase and then “catch” the Grinches who are placed along the course. Every time he catches a Grinch, he acquires a sticker; each person’s goal is to get the highest amount of stickers by the end of the race.
People who are interested in the Reindeer Run can sign up online or at race day registration. Race day registration for the 5K will be happening from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and registration for the 1K will be going on at 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and they will only be accepting checks.
Adult registration is for participants ages 13 and up, and is $25 per person. Adults and teens interested can sign up at multiple sites from Nov. 13 at midnight through Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m. Kids’ registration is for participants ages 12 and under, and is only $15, with the same registration time. There also is a family registration that a team of family members or friends can sign up together and will only cost $60 with the same registration time.
“Some people call me crazy,” Lynch said. “But I love running, especially running with my cross-country team.”
National Honor’s Society participates at the race by having members capture pictures, helping at the finish line and spreading words of encouragement to the runners during the run. Some of the Grinches will be students in NHS who have volunteered for the job.
Participants will receive awards at the end of each race. For the Grinch Chase 5K, the top three males and females in each age division will receive awards. The age groups are as listed: 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+. For the Catch the Grinch 1K, all finishers ages 12 and under will receive an award, with the top three finishers receiving separate awards.
The race will still go on no matter if it is raining or snowing on the day of the Reindeer Run. Only if the weather presents any danger to the participants, will the race be canceled. Participants will not be given a refund if the weather is threatening.
