Get suited up and be a hero

Donning a Santa suit and hat and going for a run is a phenomenon that has been growing for years with locations ranging from London to Las Vegas and Osaka to Edinburgh.

Santa runs are a jolly spectacle that help to get participants and spectators into the Christmas spirit. Some are done in the name of charity and others are a festive way to keep fit and have fun, being organised by local running groups or community organisations.

A website (santadash.co.uk) has even been set up to help publicise the array of events sweeping the UK and abroad over the next two months.

For Dundee, it’s going to be a new sight, with the city’s first Santa Dash taking place on Sunday November 26. The city centre event will help raise funds for The ARCHIE Foundation – the official charity of The Tayside Children’s Hospital – and promises to be a fantastic, fun day out for all the family.

The 2km “dash” begins at 10.30am and will start and finish at City Square, with the route including the Murraygate, Meadowside and Reform Street.

People can walk or run the route or go along as a spectator. Garry Smith, events and promotions officer at Dundee City Council, explains: “It’s a great laugh and it will be a great spectacle, seeing all these people running around in Santa costumes – we can’t wait!”

Information about the route, entrance fees and what will happen on the day can be found by visiting leisureandculturedundee.com.

In addition to the event in Dundee city centre, there will be a separate Santa Run event taking place at noon on Saturday December 2 at Camperdown Park. This event will be £10 per entrant (this includes a Santa suit, finisher’s medal and goodie bag) and will take runners on a 5km route round the park.

Cupar is holding its 5k Santa fun run on Sunday November 19 at 1pm in a course on St Mary’s Road. Registration is at the Howe of Fife Sports Hub, Duffus Park, Cupar, commencing at 10.30am on the day. Entries are £12 per athlete, free suits will be provided and all finishers will receive a commemorative medal.

Although children under 13 are unable to participate in the 5k run, there is a run for the under-13s starting at 12.15pm. The entry fee is £3 per child. All proceeds from this event will go to Cupar at Christmas, an organisation responsible for planning the town’s festivities.

In Perth, meanwhile, the sight of Santas on the run is something of an annual occurrence. The Fair City’s 5km fun run at noon on Saturday December 9 will take participants through the centre of Perth, across the River Tay and on to the finish on the North Inch.

It will be £10 per entrant and runners will receive a full Santa outfit to run in, a goodie bag containing a finisher’s medal (which doubles up as a Christmas tree decoration!) and refreshments will also be available.

And if you continue to wear your Santa outfit while shopping, you may receive presents and discounts from the Farmers’ Market and city centre retailers.

Entry is limited so be sure to book in advance by visiting perthcity.co.uk.

Santa runs are now a common event and there is even a website containing details on such events in the UK. Pictures: Gareth Jennings/ Steve Macdougall.