Yes, there is a Santa Claus Half Marathon! This race has changed so much over the years, the only thing constant is the timing (first Saturday in August). This year's race had been canceled because there was no RD. Apparently the North Pole High School cross-country team didn't want to do it anymore. So, we were adjusting our local race series from an 8 race series to a 7 race series. Bad news for me because I rely on the longer races to catch up in points to those speedy young women who run track and favor the shorter distances. So, Team RWB (red, white and blue, a service organization to help veterans) stepped up and the race was on! I told my friend Jane, part of Team RWB, that they need to raise the entry fee next year if they're still doing this race. It was only $20 and I think most people would gladly pay $35 or $40 to enter and support the cause.

Ok, on to the race... Perfect weather if not a little too sunny. Some cloud cover would've been nice, but I'm not going to complain about a sunny day in August! Fashion report: teal Asics shorts, white singlet, Saucony Kinvara 8's. The race is held in the Chena Lakes recreation area, part of the Chena River Flood Control project, just south of North Pole. It's called the "Santa Claus Half Marathon" because North Pole is this kitchy little town about 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks that thrives on all this Santa Claus and Christmas stuff. Nothing like a town with a theme.

The race started a little differently this year (again, it's changed a bit for each of the past 3 years), starting in a field where we ran about 500 feet up to the bike path, followed that path for about a mile then veered off to a dirt road. At about 2.5 miles, we're up on the dike running on a gravel surface with rocks of varying sizes, many kind of big, and loose sand in spots. I work too hard on this surface, and was trying to maintain a 7:55 pace but having a hard time. Met DH where the bikepath started again (yay) at 4.7 miles, and he had my Nuun and some words of encouragement. He meets me at several spots with that support, and it really helps. So the bikepath went on for what seemed like forever but it was about 3 miles. Then up and over the dike onto the flood control plain where there were more rocks and gravel sections. Just before mile 10 we're up on the dike again, running along the gravelly surface for a little over a mile I think, then down onto the bike path again. Really struggled on the gravel sections this year, so was very glad to get back on the pavement. Passed two women who'd passed me earlier, and finished 6th woman in 1:48:38.

We didn't stick around for any awards or anything, and it was nice to get home before noon on that beautiful Saturday. I like the half marathon distance, and this one is the only local half that we have here. But I really dislike the course because of the rocks and gravel. Overall series standings improved to 5th place, but the women in 6th and 7th are going to overtake me in the next two races (they just didn't do all the races so far, which is why they're behind me in total points so far), so I'm not confident in retaining a top 5 spot. Next up is the Golden Heart Trail 5k on the 19th, and then the Equinox on Sept. 16.

Yeah, it's a stupid name for a redneck town with some of the coldest low spots in the area. But hey, they have a great big santa out there, and the street lights look like candy canes. I took Holly out there when she was here.

Yep, I kid you not. And they're building onto that thing so it's going to be even bigger. That actually looks like an old picture, it's more white now and bigger than that. Full of everything Christmas.

Here's more what it looks like now, and yes that big Santa statue is huge, and was recently moved back from the road a bit.

Nice race, sistahhh. I really enjoyed reading the race report.

Nice job, Spinach! And I bet you know someone who could use that gift card. That is an interesting prize though for a running race. I'd say maybe a third of the people I know around here who run are vegetarians.