running with the
Reindeer
As the Christmas season and its varied traditions draw closer, get ready for Amelia Island’s annual Reindeer Run, which celebrates its tenth and final year in December. BY JULIE SIMMONS • PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMELIA RUNNERS
T
he first Sunday of December is a standing date for many on Amelia Island. Runners lace up their shoes to hit the pavement for 13.1 or 3.1 miles. Walkers dress in festive apparel and meet their friends ready for some exercise and camaraderie. Volunteers bundle up ready to brave the cool air as they direct the crowds and serve them water along the course. And the energetic Reindeer Run race directors, Pattee Boler and Susie DeMille, are all smiles, greeting friends, handling any race-day hiccups, and making sure that Santa is at the starting line to announce, “On your marks, get set, go!” The tradition started with a casual conversation 11 yearsago when Pattee and Susie traveled to another city for a race and thought, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if Amelia had its own half-marathon that toured our natural beauty!” From that inspiration, Pattee and Susie began to explore the possibilities; they crowd-sourced the concept with runners at the McArthur YMCA, athletes they’d bump into in town, 49 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE •
and, of course, the Amelia Island Runners Club, who endorsed the idea and partnered with Pattee and Susie to bring it to life. “The Reindeer Run is unique in that it’s so much more than just a run,” explains Pattee. “It’s truly a family event with something for everyone. From the certified races for the athletes to the one-mile, half-mile, and 100 yard dash with Santa for the children, a Kid’s Zone, Beer Garden, and this year, a 5k with your furry friends, everyone can come and have a great time!” “Pattee hit the nail on the head,” says Susie. “I love having my whole family involved. My Dad dresses up as Santa and runs with the littles and his buddies host the Beer Garden; Mom runs registration and coordinates the race packets, and of course, my boys have run the half-marathon every single year. In fact, this is our tenth year, and Joey is 20 now, so since he was 10, he’s run 13.1 miles each year. And his training starts and ends on race day!” she laughs. continued on next page
NOVEMBER 2021
www.AmeliaIslander.com
