This was the second annual Run Santa Run 5K. It was very well-organized and attracted a large number of participants (1,005 up from 625 last year) and their families.

The weather was really nice this year, so I'm sure that helped attendance quite a bit. The atmosphere was very family friendly. Lots of little kids racing with their parents, and bigger kids (9-11ish) racing on their own.

The course was flat and easy to navigate. It meandered through a quiet neighborhood, which was nice, but finished on a busy main road which made for a rather fun last tenth of the 5K.

For a "fun run" I would say it was a pretty competitive race. If you're a recreational runner just out for a good time, I highly recommend staying in the back of the pack. If you're looking for a PR (which is easily achievable given the flat terrain), try to position yourself toward the front. Just be prepared for a lot of people tossing cookies at the finish line!

My kids and husband came to cheer me on and had fun before, during, and after the race. There was music, Santa Claus, and lots of delicious post-race food for the runners and families.

A fun race that I would recommend to anyone and look forward to running again in 2016!