Even though Running has really been my primary exercise activity, a friend of mine posted this picture on her facebook page (thanks Janice Rose Dimock) and I thought that it would be a great idea for me to pick up a copy of P90X for the New Year. 

Anybody got a set of the DVD’s that they aren’t using?  (All the ones we have at the North Pole are going out to deserving “kids” on Christmas.)

If you want to donate one to Santa, just leave it with the milk and cookies.  I will be sure to add you to the “Nice” list !

S. Claus

P.S. I know that Mrs. Claus has been working out quite a bit (an old copy of “Buns of Steel” I think).  If I’m going to keep up with her in 2012, I better do something !

Ever wonder what it would look like if they crossed the cartoon character He-Man, Defender of the Universe, with Santa?
And then was colorized by Peter Maxx (of Beatles and 1960′s fame)?

Of course He-Man’s “battle cat” would have to be replaced by a “battle reindeer”… check out the graphic here…

I AM THE POWER ! ! ! !

Below is a copy of the email sent out by Holiday Marathons, an organization that puts on free races on Holidays.  See what you think …

Dear Holiday Marathoner,

The Holiday Marathons planned to hold the Second Annual Christmas run in Van Cortlandt Park. We applied for a permit in September and set forth planning for the upcoming run shortly after. The Christmas run was a festive success last year with hundreds of participants who brought presants for each other and for children in need. The ground under the Christmas tree was full of generous gifts and the trails were full of happy runners.

After months of exhaustive planning, expectiving a greater success than last year, The New York City Parks Department called December 8th to let us know the permit was denied. The reason given was, “The proposed event is of such a nature that it cannot reasonably be accomodated in that location.” Park’s reason for the denial seems unjustifiable given the number of events The Holiday Marathons held succssfully in Van Cortlandt Park over the past year.

Their mouths will hang open a minute of two, then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry, Boo Hoo. – The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

THERE WILL STILL BE CHRISTMAS! Please join The Holiday Marathons in Tibbetts Brook Park Christmas morning at 11am. We mapped a beautiful course just a 20-minute jog north on The Putnam Trail from Van Cortlandt Park. Tibbetts Brook Park also has ample parking if you choose to drive.

Please sign up for the Christmas Marathon in Tibbets Brook Park here. And don’t forget to bring a gift for the yankee swap!

For more information on the permit denial and The Holiday Marathon’s plans going forward, please read the statement on our main website. For more specifics on our decision to leave Van Cortlandt Park for upcoming races, please read the statement on the Christmas race site. Please also reach out to Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Mayor Michael Bloomberg wtih your concerns regarding the permit denial.

Thank you for your support and happy running!

The Holiday Marathons

Just checking my calendar and it looks like I will be able to get some time off from the North Pole Toy Factory to do a race this coming Sunday.  A quick check of some races in Connecticut (one of my favorite locations to run) found that there is the “Holiday Run for Toys” happening in Fairfield, CT on Sunday, Dec. 18th.  Click here for more details.

The race registration is only $10 plus a new unwrapped toy and since I have plenty of unwrapped toys in the North Pole Toy Factory (mostly left over from the last minute Nice-Naughty List changes), I’m thinking this might be the perfect race for me.

What do you think?  Does it sound fun?  You know how I love Toys so I’m thinking I will go.  I don’t expect I will get a lot of opportunities to run between now and Christmas Eve.

Hope to see you there (although I will probably be “in-cognito” so I don’t get mobbed by the paparazzi) ! 

Be sure to say Hi if you recognize me … I will add you to the NICE list !

S. Claus

Registration Volunteers at the Santa Run Race

“Run Santa Run” in Glastonbury, CT . . .  ? ? ? ?
Sunday, Dec.11th, 2011

From the information on their website, it appears that the race is very “Santa Friendly” and it only costs $15 USD for raceday registration.  They also have prices for costumes which will encourage people to dress up for the race and would make it easier for me to blend into the crowd.

If everyone is wearing a hat just like mine, I’m sure no one will recognize me and I can get a good run in before I have to get back to the North Pole (or as I like to call it, “Home Sweet Home”).

What do you think? 

Leave your vote or comments below …
or on my Facebook page (click here).

Your support could help me decide to run this race ! 
(I know the elves would like to get me out of the factory for a while.) 

I ran the 5K race held at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, CT.  The weather was good with a few breaks in the clouds and lots of donuts before and after the race (although I’m trying to cut down so I can fit more presents in the sleigh).

I ran a new PR (or at least a PR in the past 10-20 years) … 31:36 which is just over a 10 minute per mile pace !

I also was lucky enough to be finishing at the same time as a lovely lady … and we both picked it up and finished strong !  (Nobody wants to be beat by Santa…. probably because of my rolly-polly reputation.)

My friends at Hope For The Warriors were there and I almost caught up to them … almost.  They must be in better shape than I am… but I still have time to get into shape by Dec. 24th !

What is your next race?

If you want to invite Santa, leave a comment below !

S.Claus

Can you pick me out in the crowd?

I ran the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving in Manchester CT.  The weather was perfect for running and I was able to follow a group of “christmas mariachi players” for about the first mile or so as they weaved through the crowd.  As the course went up the hill, I slowed down and they continued on.

I got lots of people who recognized me and gave lots of “High Fives” along the way even though I was wearing sunglasses.  How did they recognize me?

Speaking of being recognized, there was one thing I did notice … don’t try to compete with Sponge Bob SquarePants.  There was another runner dressed up as Sponge Bob.  I caught up to him and found that everyone focused on him which meant fewer “high fives” for me.  Would it be right to put Sponge Bob on the “Naughty list”?

It was a fun race with about 15,000 of my closest friends … a super way to kick off the holiday season !

S. Claus

Over the years, I’ve put on quite a bit of weight from all those milk and cookies that I eat on Christmas eve … so I decided to take up running as a way to “battle the bulge”.

Occasionally I will run a race or two between Thanksgiving and Christmas (“in cognito”, of course) and this blog is a place where I can share my thoughts on running as well as the holiday season.  (If you want to leave your Xmas list in the comments, that’s cool too.)

I hope you enjoy this website and don’t forget … I can see you when you are sleeping, I know when your awake, so be good for goodness sake !

S.Claus

P.S. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or on my Facebook page !