Hanging up our antlers…

Fifteen years ago, we were a young couple with a starter home in Southern Pines, a toddler taking her first steps, and an idea. We’d seen the fun and festivity of the Charleston Reindeer Run, and we wanted to bring it home to our town. The generous folks at Trident Marketing agreed to help us turn our vision into a reality, our friends and family stepped up to volunteer, and in 2007 we kicked off a small local race with about 400 runners. We raised $2500 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. We were hooked. 

Fast forward to today, where we’re writing to you from our temporary home in Barcelona, Spain. We’ve got two teenagers (that toddler from 2007 is looking at colleges these days!), new businesses, and big plans for adventures and accomplishments in the next chapters of our lives. Life has taken us down paths we never could have foreseen all those years ago, and while the Reindeer Fun Run has been a huge part of our journey so far, our path is going in a different direction and it’s time to … continue

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Nothing makes our day more than hearing from Reindeer Fun Runners about the ways that the race has impacted them. We also get really happy when we see all the dogs who participate in our race year after year. So when the two combine, we’ve just got to share.

Yesterday, we got a letter from Kate Hendricks that really moved us. Kate’s dog Missy Pearl was a longstanding and enthusiastic participant in the Reindeer Fun Run. Kate wanted to share her story, and we’re so glad she did! Spoiler alert, you might need a tissue before it’s over. Much love to Kate and Missy Pearl—we’re so glad she got to be part of RFR’s story for so many years. ❤️

Missy Pearl’s Story (as told by her mom Kate)

I ran the 12K Reindeer Run on Saturday, December 5, 2020 in memory of my dog, Missy Pearl, our wire-haired fox terrier who died in May at nearly 14 years of age.  We ran the Reindeer Run every year of its existence (except once) and the Reindeer Run was the best day of Missy’s year, and the Reindeer Runs were among the happiest days of … continue

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You can submit your photos and upload your times right on our home page, and don’t forget to tag us on social media using @ReindeerFunRun, #ReindeerFunRun and #ReindeerFunRun2020! Check the most updated leaderboard any time on our RunSignup race page!

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It’s Reindeer Fun Run Race Kickoff Day!

Today is a huge day for Reindeer Fun Runners here in Aberdeen and around the globe—it’s December 1 and the race is off and running! Who will be the first to post their time? Who will have the best costume? Who will win the Trident Tricourse Challenge?

It’s Giving Tuesday!

Today is also important because it’s Giving Tuesday. We’ve been blown away with the donations we’ve received this year for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. This community has been so generous, and your gifts will be incredibly impactful as the team at BGC works to keep at-risk youth happy, healthy, and engaged in learning this winter and thoughout the coming year. If you’d like to donate today in honor of Giving Tuesday, you can do it here!

It’s Time to Talk About Warming Up for the Reindeer Fun Run!

Whether you’re planning to run your race today or sometime over the next two weeks, it’s important to warm up properly before you start. Check out this Race Day Warm Up guide from our training partners at First … continue

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This is a great alternative to the Southern Pines and Aberdeen courses already on our site! Thanks First Health Fitness!

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First thing first—you’ve got to sign up! And if you want to make sure you get your race swag—including our 2020 shirt and optional BUFF®, you have to register by NOVEMBER 15. That’s coming up really soon, so get on board and click here to do it now! 

When you go through the signup process, you’ll decide whether you will

pick up your race packet in person or have it shipped for a flat $6 fee. Packet pickup will be held November 30 and December 1 at FirstHealth Fitness Pinehurst from 12-7 each day. We’ll be using social distance protocols and following local health guidance to keep everyone safe, but if you want a 100% contactless option, opt for the $6 shipping. 

2. Step TWO…Decide on the WHERE, the WHEN, and the WHO of your Reindeer Fun Run

Just like all of you, we’d give anything to be able to gather together in person on one crisp December morning to run, celebrate the season, and raise a ton of money for the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills as one joyful … continue

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Way back in August, we posted the news that the 2020 Reindeer Fun Run was going virtual on our social media accounts. Almost immediately, some of our terrific supporters commented on one of the biggest silver linings of a virtual event: you can participate from ANYWHERE! Folks who were once part of the Sandhills community and have now moved on can run down memory lane by joining the reindeer herd from afar. Longtime Reindeer Fun Runners can recruit friends and family from across the country to join them in supporting the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. And the Petsolt family—who founded this race 14 years ago and wouldn’t dream of missing a race—can run their own course from their current digs in Spain. 

With all this emphasis on geographic diversity, a global theme seemed right. So we worked with designer Mike Sofka to create a one-of-a-kind 2020 Reindeer Virtual Fun Run shirt. Reindeer Fun Runners will get a gray technical t-shirt while Egg Nog Joggers will get a classic white cotton t-shirt with their own 2020 logo.

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Be sure to sign up by November 15 to guarantee you get your 2020 swag!

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REINDEER ON THE ROUTE

If you’re ever run the Reindeer Fun Run, you know that almost everyone on the course has antlers on their head. So it takes something a little special to make it into the gallery as a reindeer! Like these lovely ladies who always rock the reindeer costumes with just a little extra style!

THE GRINCHIEST GRINCHES

We see lots of Grinches out on the course every year. Luckily most of the folks sporting the green guy’s visage aren’t actually grinches themselves!

PUPS ON PATROL

We love it when people bring their dogs to the race, and it’s even better when the pups are in costume!

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2020 is doing its level best to upend every aspect of our lives. From closing schools to shuttering businesses to wrecking holidays, the coronavirus feels like one big pinball of destruction zinging through our traditions, our plans, and our expectations. But as much as life looks different these days, some things remain the same. Like The Pilot’s Best of the Pines Award Series, which just gave the Reindeer Fun Run its “Best Charity Run” award for the sixth consecutive year. These awards are Reader’s Choice awards, which means that you—our community members—voted for us. This means the world to us, especially during such a challenging time.

This year’s virtual race is going to be different, but with your help, we can make it great. If you’re feeling isolated and missing friends, gather a group and plan to run the Virtual Reindeer Fun Run together! Turn it into a safe, festive, outdoor social event and give yourself and your crew something healthy to look forward to. The Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills will thank … continue

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If you are taking part in this year’s race and need a little guidance on how you can ensure a top performance, you don’t have to go at it alone. In partnership with FirstHealth Fitness of the Carolinas – a Reindeer Fun Run sponsor for the 2014 and 2015 races – both 5k and 12k runners will have the opportunity to take advantage of comprehensive training programs.

Runners will have a variety of options to take advantage of training, including practice runs, classes, as well as training plans that you can stick to at home.

Reindeer Fun Run training resources:

Earn Your Antlers: A 5-Week Program

Earn Your Antlers is a 5-week training series that will be held at FirstHealth Fitness in Pinehurst (170 Memorial Drive) every Tuesday at 5:30pm from November 3rd to December 1st.

Classes will include:

• Training Plans
• Practice group runs
• Training logs
• Exercises and stretches 
• Lectures on proper clothing/shoes, food/nutrition, pre-race preparations, weather, and more! 

For more information about Earn … continue

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Well, that makes sense actually, we all know reindeer fly on Christmas. But it isn’t Christmas yet, and this guy seems to be pretty flashy! Plus, he’s spending a lot of time circling Moore County. It must be the 2015 Reindeer Fun Run mascot–now his alter-ego. Finally, the photo of the deer going into a phone booth makes sense.

Announcing the 2015 Reindeer Fun Run logo. To celebrate this super fun event, all race registrants will get 10% off races and gear (today only) by using the code: SUPERFUN

Click here to register!

To see all previous Reindeer Fun Run logos, visit our logos page.

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We would like to say a HUGE “CONGRATULATIONS” to Tracy Bakk and Jacob Poulliot, engaged at the finish line of Saturday’s Reindeer Fun Run!  We wish you years of happiness together!  Here’s a little note from the soon-to-be-bride….

“Jacob planned the engagement around my families visit from Minnesota.  I saw the 5k a few weeks back and figured it would be a fun event for us all to do. Not to mention it was the first race Jacob has been able to do since he tore his ACL back in April.  Once everyone finished Jacob took advantage of the moment at the finish line.  I was completely clueless, but he had let my parents know before they even made the trip down. It was very special to have them here for such a big moment. :)  We couldn’t be more excited.”

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As the year draws to a close, we at the Reindeer Fun Run want to take the time to thank you for everything you did to make the 7th annual Reindeer Fun Run possible.  Runners from all over the Sandhills and beyond say the RFR is their favorite race and comment on how organized and fun the event is, and each year the number of registrants grows.  All of this would not be possible if it weren’t for you, our volunteers, who gave time, energy, and effort every step of the way.  Thank you for being there from start to finish and way after the last runners finished their cool downs, you all are fantastic!  Special thanks goes out to the following:

Jae Kim and the Police, Fire, and Public Works Department for the Town of Aberdeen – this crew helped get the town of Aberdeen ready for the Reindeer Fun Run and helped to ensure runner safety

Robert, Matt, and Michael of the US Air Force – they provided heavy lifting and manual labor

Mark Belk, Tania Rodriguez, and Shelley Burnett – all stayed up late and did … continue

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Here is a look back…

Send your ideas or post them to us on Facebook.

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	Run for their Lives!		Sanford, NC	Aug 27
	Fall Kick-off – Bonus Participation Points	Cause: Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption	5k, 10k, 1/2 Mile
	1 in 8k Rally for the Cure		Pinehurst, NC	Sep 10
	Bonus Event Participation Points	Cause: Susan G. Komen for the Cure, NC Triangle Affiliate	1k, 8k
	Chevy to the Levee		Lumberton, NC	Sep 10
	Bonus Event Participation Points	Cause: Lumberton Boys & Girls Clubs	5k, 1 Mile
	Autumnfest		Southern Pines, NC	Oct 1
	Performance Points! Participation Points	Cause: Arts Council of Moore County and Southern Pines Parks and Recreation	5k, 1 Mile
	Scarecrow WEE Fitness Run		West End, NC	Oct 15
	Bonus Event Participation Points	Cause: West End Elementary	5k, 1 Mile
	Miles for Mira		Southern Pines, NC	Oct 29
	Bonus Event Participation Points	Cause: MIRA, USA	5k
	Turkey Trot		Pinehurst, NC	Nov 19
	Performance Points! Participation Points	Cause: Scholarships to the FirstHealth Center for Health and Fitness	5k, 10k, Half Marathon
	Reindeer Fun Run		Aberdeen, NC	Dec 3
	Performance Points! Participation Points	Cause: Boys and

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• 5k Results
• 10k Results

We will also be putting them here at reindeerfunrun.com along with all the award winners! (once we get a little rest)

We will be putting together a Nice List of all the wonderful people and groups that helped us put this event on.  It will be big – we are grateful!

Great photos from Tim Sayer coming soon!

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