advertisement

Sea of Santas fills streets of downtown Arlington Heights

Downtown Arlington Heights became a popular spot for selfies, group shots and general merriment Saturday morning as a sea of Santas filled the streets.

Actually, the 1,287 registered runners, walkers and little ones who participated in the ninth Rotary Club of Arlington Heights Santa Run were merely clad like the big man of Christmas fame. Most appeared jolly, but few were jiggly as flab was scarce among the 5K participants.

"Remember, there's a one-minute time penalty if you don't wear your beard through the whole race," Mayor Thomas Hayes cautioned the assembled Santas in the lead-up to the 10 a.m. start near the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre on Campbell Street and Highland Avenue.

"We'll wear the beards for pictures," said Stacey Tannenbaum of Northbrook, who was making her maiden voyage in the event.

"My friends said it was fun, so here I am," she said.

Besides the suits, which were provided as part of the race fee, runners and spectators sported a festive array of lights, hats, antlers and holiday accoutrements.

"I brought Christmas music to play out loud for everybody on the run," said Frannie Raddatz of Mount Prospect. She didn't get the stock Santa suit but opted to accessorize a heavy sweatshirt and skirt with seasonal trimmings.

"Last year, people personalized stuff. It's warmer, too," she said.

Santa runs are popular worldwide, and to increase buying power, the Arlington Rotary Club piggybacked its costume order with a group in Las Vegas, said Jim Bertucci, club president.

"We got the idea from a Rotarian in England who was visiting our club and introduced the concept," he said. "It's kind of cool to see a sea of Santas." While considered a fun community event, the run also has a serious purpose.

"It's really a fundraiser first and a community event second," he said. "The community has really embraced it and helped us." Proceeds go to the Rotary Foundation, which distributes funds each year for a variety of purposes in four categories: community, international, vocational and youth, Bertucci said. That can include gift and food programs for the needy, overseas disaster relief, and local high school service projects, for example.

To date, the club has donated more than $250,000 to worthy causes in Arlington Heights and neighboring communities directly as a result of the Santa Run.

"This is our signature event," Bertucci said. "Obviously, the community loves it."

Parents carried or walked their toddlers for the Reindeer Run, a short stretch that drew 62 boys and 45 girls, including 1-year-olds of each gender.

The 5K attracted 519 men and 768 women and included 100 boys and 85 girls 14 and under.

Among them were Arlington Heights residents Jennifer Schmidt and her 12-year-old sons, Charlie and Will, who are cross-country runners.

"We like to do 5Ks," she said. "This race is really fun and it's different."

This year Schmidt persuaded her friend Barb Klein to give it a try.

"I moved here three or four years ago and said, `What is everybody doing out in Santa suits?'" said Klein, an admitted non-runner.

Kelle Bruckbauer of Rolling Meadows pushed her bundled-up daughter, Eleanor, 1½, in a stroller for the mile walk.

"Clearly, she just uses it to fall asleep," Bruckbauer joked.

Crossing the finish line first was Jack Terry, a 16-year-old junior at Prospect High School, with a time of 17 minutes, 14 seconds. Jack is a member of the school's cross-country team.

"Guess I was feeling good," he said. "They mentioned an award, but I don't know. It's having fun."

@dhmickzawislak

  Runners squeeze through the starting line for the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Runners prepare for the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Santa Bob Rohrman kicks off the "Reindeer Run" for kids in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  The start of the "Reindeer Run" before the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Makenna Benthal, left, and Tess Maile, both of Gurnee, ready themselves for the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas Hayes kicks off the annual Rotary Santa Run on Saturday morning in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Nate Russell, 9, of Arlington Heights wins the "Reindeer Run" Saturday morning in Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Prospect High School junior Jack Terry of Arlington Heights wins the annual Rotary Santa Run Saturday morning in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Kelle Bruckbauer walks while her 1½-year-old daughter, Eleanor, sleeps in the baby carriage Saturday morning in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Mickey Snider of Arlington Heights, with his children Russell and Elizabeth, ready themselves for the annual Rotary Santa Run on Saturday morning in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Tom Flanagan of Mount Prospect holds up his Santa pants while approaching the finish line Saturday morning during the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Amy Sherwood of Streamwood, center, waves to a friend in the crowd Saturday morning as runners prepare for the start of the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Kate Foley, 9, of Arlington Heights heads for the finish line Saturday morning during the annual Rotary Santa Run in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
  Zack Kurka, 13, of Arlington Heights prepares for the start of the annual Rotary Santa Run on Saturday morning in downtown Arlington Heights. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.