Lodi’s running tradition
Running Santas make their annual Downtown rounds, spreading joy, candy canes
Downtown-area businesses know that when a group of teachers burst through the door wearing Santa hats and handing out candy canes, the annual Running Santas have arrived.
These Lodi High teachers (current and retired) made their way from the school to Downtown for the annual run last Friday.
Running Santas is a tradition that is not often talked about, but has continued for decades. It’s a simple way Lodi High School has carried on the memory of a beloved teacher and also spread holiday cheer in the community.
The late teacher Bill Bowers started the tradition in 1994 with a core group of five other Lodi High School teachers. There were several teachers who met after school to go for a run, and one year they donned Santa hats and took their run out into the community.
At that time, the core group consisted of Bill Bowers, Gary Knackstedt, Mike Wood, Bob Whitaker, Larry Smith and Shawn Allen.
Not expecting the visit, banks were a little on-edge about seeing the strangely-dressed individuals rush in with candy canes, according to retired teacher Mike Wood. Knackstedt remembers people laughing when they came into local businesses, since they didn’t know what was going on.
When Bowers died in 1997, many were shocked to hear that the popular teacher who liked to have fun was gone, Wood said.
His colleagues chose to honor his memory by continuing the tradition. Several other teachers have joined in since then, and all of the original members have retired. However, many of those who retired continue to return for the run, including Wood and Allen.
“It’s fun to go spread holiday cheer. People
get excited,” Wood said.
They’ve delivered candy canes to people of all ages, from those in the bars to bankers to homeless people on the street, he said.
Over the years, locals and long-time business owners have come to expect a visit from Running Santas. The day they run in December depends on each person’s individual schedules, but typically they set out running during the week before finals.
The Running Santas begin at Lodi High School and travel through the businesses at Lakewood Mall. Then they head east to Downtown and back to the Camp Hutchins day care program before returning to campus.
Knackstedt was unable to make it to this year’s run, but has joined in on his bike in previous years following an injury. He said that part of what makes people enjoy the tradition are the laughs and the fun.
“Christmas is that time of year when people have a good time,” Knackstedt said
There has only been one grumpy response to their arrival to a bank, he said. The group announced themselves by saying “Ho, ho, ho!” This particular man in the bank was unimpressed and responded by telling them, “Why don’t you grow up?”
Rare bah humbugs aside, the tradition has continued for many years and in part so does the memory of a long-departed teacher who sought to bring fun and laughter into the community.