Perth Santa Run 2016

Saturday saw the Streets of Perth awash with Santas as it hosted the biggest ever turn out for the annual Santa Run! 865 runners in all donned their red velour finest (not including the many dogs who also turned up in fancy dress!), with 1^st male being awarded to Sam Elliot and 1^st female to Jill Geany.

This super fun event is open to runners (and walkers) of all ages, shapes and sizes and saw lots of kids joining in the fun. Many turned it into a festive family outing, and the flat 5km course meant the route was suitable for all abilities.

Runners were provided with their own Santa outfit to wear for the run and a goodie bag containing a snazzy finishers medal (which doubles up as a Christmas tree decoration).

Santas and spectators descended on Horsecross Plaza for a 12pm kick off. The warm-up was led by Live Active leisure who got the party started with high knees, lunges, kicks and flicks before the main event.  Now in it’s 4^th year, the Santa Run is always a popular event but even more so this year with supporters and spectators joining in the fun, and Santas snapping away on their phones to bag the ultimate festive profile pic.

The circular route took runners from Horsecross plaza up Mill Street, down the High Street, over The Queen’s Bridge and along the River Tay to come back over Smeaton’s Bridge before doing a wee tour of the North Inch to finish off. The sight of hundreds of Santas running through the streets of Perth City Centre and onto the picturesque North Inch is one which is hard to forget, and we’re pretty sure we saw a few squirrels rubbing their eyes is disbelief!

Santas who continued to wear their outfit while shopping also received some great discounts and gifts from local retailers including a furry headband for the first 40 to visit Marian’s of Perth, a free award-winning Scotch Pie from Murray’s for 50 lucky Santas and a 10% discount in Willow’s.

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Thanks to Ian Potter from PK Perspective for the images!