Christmas Eve Elf Run will return to downtown Geneva

If your morning run will take you through downtown Geneva on Christmas Eve, you may encounter Santa and his elves, also on the run, passing out gifts to fellow runners and passers-by.

For the seventh year, owner and manager Eric Ott of Geneva Running Outfitters is organizing a Christmas Eve Elf Run. It begins early morning Monday, Dec. 24, as staff dress as elves, Ott's father dons a Santa costume and several bags are filled with presents. The Elf Run squad then head out (with Santa on a bicycle) to an undisclosed location in downtown Geneva to begin their run at 8 a.m.

Every early morning runner, walker, shopper, diner or coffee shop patron they meet along the way receives a random gift. Last year the group handed out 120 gifts along downtown streets and on the Fox River Trail. This time the bags will be filled with treats ranging from candy canes to $70 pairs of sunglasses.

"We've never done this to promote the store - in fact, many of the people we give to don't know who we are," said Eric Ott. "We just love to see the looks on people's faces when we give them a gift for Christmas Eve. They feel good, we feel good - it's just a great way to help our neighbors kick off the holiday."

According to the running store's Facebook page, approximately 270 people are hoping to "run into" Santa and his elves between 8 and 9 a.m.

"People love it," said Eric Ott, who notes that the annual event has created a loyal following.

"No one knows where we will be or when, so it's part scavenger hunt, part 'Where's Waldo?' as runners and walkers try to find us. We've actually heard from folks in years past that they're bummed they missed us, and are committed to catching us next year."

Geneva Running Outfitters is at 221 W. State St. in Geneva. Ott can be reached at eric@genevarunningoutfitters.com.