Santa Run Kit Checklist: Everything You Need to Look the Part

Santa Run Kit Checklist

Everything You Need to Look the Part

Santa fun runs, Santa dashes and festive charity runs are becoming increasingly popular each year, offering a great way to spread holiday cheer and raise funds in the run-up to Christmas. One of the biggest logistical challenges of organising a Santa run is ordering and distributing the race essentials, such as Santa run outfits, festive medals and race numbers. With Running Imp, you can find all of these festive race essentials in one place, meaning you can tick off another task on your Santa run checklist with ease.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you’ll need for a successful and joyous Santa run. Simply follow our checklist and you’ll be dashing in no time.

What is a Santa Run and How Do They Work?

A Santa run (also known as a Santa dash or fun run) is a festive-themed charity event where participants dress up in Santa Claus outfits and run a set route. They work by having people sign up for the event, often paying a fee that partly goes to charity. On the day, participants receive a Santa suit, run the course and are typically rewarded with a festive medal at the finish line. The goal is to spread holiday cheer, have fun and raise funds for a good cause.

How Can I Make My Santa Run Stand Out from Other Events?

If you want to make your Santa run stand out from the crowd, then adding a unique twist to the race format can liven up the event. Popular themes include: 

Glow in the dark runs

Make the most of the winter darkness with a spectacular light show of colourful glow-in-the-dark runners. Use glow sticks, glow necklaces and glow bracelets to add a pop of colour to your festive fun run.

Shop glow in the dark race essentials

Dog-friendly Santa dashes

Encourage your racers to bring their furry friends along to a dog-friendly Santa dash. You can provide any four-legged dashers with dog collar lights and dog watering stations to keep those tails wagging. 

Shop dog collar lights

Team challenges

Build some festive camaraderie with team-based challenges at your Santa run. Encourage groups of friends, work colleagues and sports clubs to sign up and compete in team challenges such as “best dressed team”, “most money raised” and “fastest group time” to inject a sense of festive team competition, with the winners getting special festive medals.

Shop festive medals

Obstacle courses

Add some simple festive obstacles to your race route, such as snowy hoops to dash through or presents to carry and deliver. Or go all out and rent an inflatable obstacle course to make your Santa run a memorable, adrenaline-pumping bounce.

Shop Santa run essentials

What Essentials do I Need to Order for my Santa Run Event?

To ensure your Santa run or festive fundraising race is a success, having all your race essentials ordered and ready to go before the event is a must. The most important Santa run accessories include: 

For participants:

• Santa suits – Providing all of your racers with a Santa run outfit is a necessity to ensure everyone looks the part when running. And if you order with Running Imp, you can take advantage of free delivery* on all Santa suits to UK mainland addresses. (*T&Cs Apply).
• Festive hats – The topper to the Santa run outfit and a must-have finishing touch.  
• Medals – Reward your festive runners with a seasonal medal that commemorates the event. Choose from festive medal shapes such as snowflakes, Christmas trees and snowmen.
• Personalised and printed Santa hats – Add an extra personal touch with printed logos for your event, supported charity or company sponsorship.
• Santa gloves – Keep your racers warm during colder days with Santa gloves, a nice detail to complete the whole look.

For organisers:

• Race numbers – Each participant will need a race number, so don’t forget to order enough to cover your event.
• Safety signs – First aid stations, drinks stations and vital race information should be marked with safety signs to help your runners navigate the event smoothly. 
• Route marking – Ensure your race route is clearly marked with sufficient route markers and directional signs to map the entire course.

Seasonal Medal and Souvenir Ideas

Commemorating your Santa run with a unique medal or souvenir is a fantastic way to reward your runners for their hard work and effort, and a good way to encourage them to sign up for next year’s event. Choose from festive medals such as:

• Snowflakes
• Baubles
• Santa
• Christmas trees
• Snowmen
• Reindeer

Make your Santa run medals truly unique with custom ribbons and engraving to truly stand out from other races.

Boosting Participation & Fundraising

Increasing the number of participants in your race and the funds they raise is a challenge faced by every race organiser. To boost your numbers, you can:

• Sell sponsorship packages – Encourage local and national businesses to back a charitable cause with sponsorship packages.
• Make your finish line photo-friendly – Use race arches, banners, and custom finishing tape to turn your Santa run finish line into an Instagrammable moment.
• Advertise your race early on social media – Leverage the power of social media channels by promoting your Santa run well in advance.
• Encourage early bird sign-ups – Offer runners who sign up early to your race a discount, boosting your initial number of participants.

Start Planning Early for Success

To ensure your Santa run remains successful year after year, it's essential to start planning for race day well in advance. Choosing Running Imp as your race essentials partner will help get your festive run on track.

Free Design Service

Let us design your perfect medal for free. We understand that the medal you award at your event should be a cherished memento, one that participants will proudly display for years. That's why we're passionate about creating original, eye-catching medals that perfectly encapsulate the brilliant memories. Our in-house design team is dedicated to working closely with you to bring your vision to life. As part of our Bespoke Medal service, you'll have access to our expertise at no cost.

Short Timelines and Turnarounds

We will send you a design within 3 – 4 working days, which means from start to finish, we can turn around your medal orders in record time.

Bulk Order Guidance

We’ll guide you every step of the way to help you order the correct amount of medals, race essentials and Santa run outfits in time for your event.

Every festive season, Santa runs and festive races around the world bring together like-minded runners in a bid to spread festive cheer, raise funds and have fun. These events help build communities and raise much-needed funds for charities, so ensuring they run smoothly is vital. Trust Running Imp to provide the race essentials you need to get your event on track.

Order your Santa medals and kits early to spread festive cheer