Guest Blog - Love Topsham Santa Run

Saturday 7th December – it's nearly here!

The final preparations are in place for the town's first Santa Run 2019 at Topsham Rugby Club, and many of you have already registered to take part. Well done! Even better news is that you can still register if you missed our initial deadline. We've been able to adjust our plans so that we can now take registrations up until 10pm on Thursday December 5th. Hop on over to our page and you'll see all the details including the payment button! From 0.5 miles up to 1.5 miles, everyone can get around regardless of whether you have little legs or huge strides! Come and be part of Topsham's new annual Christmas tradition!

So, whether you're taking part or are just coming along to watch, do read on and catch up with all the latest details of the day.

We'll keep you fuelled up

Topsham Rugby Club will be filling their kitchens ready for everyone to stay well-fed on the morning of the Santa Run. Mulled Apple Juice, tea, coffee and hot chocolates should keep everyone hydrated. And food? No problem, we hear that there will be cakes and bacon butties to keep everyone's carb intake up!

Everyone will be warm with a little help!

Adding to the fun, Joana Osorio, Topsham's awesome Zumba teacher will be leading the participants - big and small - in a festive warm up. So whether you are dressed as a Christmas pudding, a fairy or Santa's helper,  you'll be able to step, wiggle and cha-cha your way to warming those muscles ready for your run! Thank you Joana!

You're in good company

Local resident Victoria Hill of Run-Fit will be taking part with her young ones and supporting this community event. Victoria was so pleased that this is taking place. "It's relaxed local fun runs like this one with medals and silliness for everyone, that sows a seed in little people's minds. Children start here with a Santa Run and then one day it's a marathon. Go Topsham!"

Timings and What to Bring on the Day

Just bring along proof of payment and your completed registration forms (downloaded from the Santa Run page). Be there to cheer on your fellow participants in all the fun runs on the day. Timings are as follows:
10am – Sign in at Topsham Rugby Club, collect your race number, then join in the crazy warm up!
10.30am – 0-5 year olds run (half a mile)
10.45am – 5-10 year olds run (1 mile)
11.10am – 10+ and team event run (1.5 miles)
11.30am – All participants blaze a festive trail together and head into Topsham to collect treats in town!

PLEASE NOTE: Timings are approximate. If you are running as a family and therefore mixed ages talk to the registration team on the day to choose which run is best for you. Don't forget, if you run out of puff, it is absolutely fine to walk too!

Medals mean treats!

When you've got hold of that prestigious medal, you are invited to head into Topsham with all the other participants and pick up a treat from each of the four participating locations! Mercado, The Topsham Bookshop, St Margaret's Church and Route 2 Bike Shop will all welcome you with some goodies. We can't wait!

Meet the Race Organiser – Suzie Tosh

Suzie Tosh from Peter Tosh Opticians has been working hard with the Love Topsham team to put on this event. Suzie only took up running 5 years ago and has achieved so much in such a short time. She has set up a running club in a local school; qualified as a running leader; volunteers as a guide runner for the blind and partially sighted; and was selected to be a Devon Girls Ambassador helping ladies get back into fitness. Wow!

That’s not to mention her day job at the Opticians and her own huge personal running achievements.

Suzie is so passionate about delivering Topsham’s first Santa Run on December 7th, and we hope that the Topsham community supports it to the full. Well done Suzie, and so inspiring to be working with you on this new event for Topsham.

We hope that you have found this blog useful and we hope to see you on the day. In the meantime, please continue to take your Love Topsham card out with you into Topsham, and of course, see you at the Late Night Christmas Shopping Night on Tuesday, 3rd December!