The Santa Hustle – a half-marathon/5K combo series of road races presented by Adrenaline Sports Management – squeezed down the Maine Mall chimney Saturday morning, when roughly 2,300 participants gathered in the parking lot near Jimmy the Greek’s to trek off into the wan morning light and the chill November air.
Like many such events, the Santa Hustle series benefits a variety of charities. This year’s South Portland competition will bolster the efforts of Easter Seals, which “provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities,” according to the race’s website.
Call it a “competition,” but for many runners, the motivation is pure enjoyment in the holiday spirit. Kathy Davis, of North Berwick, and Donna Crowell, of Springvale, came out to walk the 5K course together.
“It just seemed like it was a fun race, with Santa and Christmas coming up,” Davis said, emphasizing the word “fun.”
Crowell echoed her friend. “Kathy wanted to do it, and it did seem like a fun idea, with the whole Santa thing. It seemed like a big race and a lot of fun.”
John Ripoli, a Pennsylvania native now attending the University of New England, articulated exactly the same sentiment. “It seemed like fun,” he said. The Santa Hustle is something of a Christmas gift from Ripoli to himself – it’s his first road race, hopefully the first of many.
The half-marathon route took the red-and-white-clad runners up Maine Mall road, Running Hill Road, Cummings Road and Sable Oaks Drive – and back again – before wending its way up Jetport Plaza Road and Westbrook Street and looping around Brickhill Avenue, Lydia Lane and Red Oak Drive.
Eventually, athletes trundled down Western Avenue and onto Gorham Road, before turning onto Clarks’ Pond Parkway and taking a circuitous path back to mall. The 5K route was a much-truncated, somewhat-altered version of the same. Water, cookie and candy stations lined the course, keeping participants hydrated and energized.
Rudolph himself oversaw the goings-on at the Maine Mall Saturday morning.
Participants begin to line up for the half-marathon portion of the Santa Hustle.
Just after the proverbial starting gun, racers jet away from the start line for the half-marathon.
Colorful, happy runners wave to cameras lined up along the sidewalks.
Plush, white beards proved a common accoutrement among Santa Hustle participants; one wonders how long it took the ladies to grow theirs.
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