Since 2012 my family and I have delighted in kicking off our Christmas season with the Chasing Santa event the first Saturday in December.
Here's a couple pictures of my kids at our first Chasing Santa Run. It made for great Christmas fun, memories, photos and a healthy diversion from the rest of the celebrations throughout the month.
Delanie, Levi and Daniel with organizers Michael and Anne Pharis in 2012. The kids are now 16, 19 and 22!
In 2016 when I bought the Buffalo Lodge to turn it into the Bicycle Resort, my friend and Chasing Santa organizer Michael Pharis of LYMEvents said he would add a Cycling Santa to his Chasing Santa event for us to host. We've partnered every year we've been in business, guiding the ride and hosting a turnaround party with live music and a free waffle and hot cocoa breakfast at the lodge for riders.
Also part of the fun each year has been a partnership with FOX21 Morning News. Since our first Cycling Santa 7 years ago, they have shared the event through live morning broadcasts from the Lodge, on the route and from their studios.
We will be live on FOX21 Morning News this year on Tuesday, November 21st from 5:30- 8:45am. Please be sure to tune in!
Here's links to some of the past year's coverage:
The event supports a great cause helping to provide toys and assistance to thousands of kids and families in the region each year. Christmas Unlimited has been serving Colorado Springs for 100 years now and is the oldest Toy Distribution Organization in the Country. When you participate in the Chasing Santa & Cycling Santa you are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy. You can find out more and donate at christmasunlimited.org.
What: Chasing Santa & Cycling Santa
When: Saturday, December 2nd
Ride Start at 9am,
5k Start at 10am followed by
Expo to 1pm
Where: Pima North Creek Complex, 5725 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs
Register: ChasingSanta.com
Be sure to also watch out for my latest "Pedal the Springs" podcast all about the Cycling Santa on Studio 809 podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts for a great interview I hosted today with organizer Michael Pharis, Volunteer Ben Schwenk and Participant David Sweetman.