Santa Monica - Venice Christmas Run Race Report

The Green Girl did 'LA's Largest Holiday Running Event', the Santa Monica - Venice Christmas Run, yesterday.

The Christmas Run benefited the non-profit organization, Partners In Malawi. Partners In Malawi is an HIV/AIDS care organization that supports the Partners in Hope Medical Center in Malawi.

The Partners in Hope Medical Center offers free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment.

The organization also created the Our Action for Behavior Change program that works with 40 schools to educate the youth of Malawi about HIV prevention. The Tikambe Youth Center was also established to provide 'youth friendly' HIV testing.

I carpooled with Rad Runner Girl and we met up with our friend, Janey.

For the first time ever, I decided to get into the holiday spirit with some Christmas tree knee socks.

It was an unusually foggy morning. The 10k kicked off at 7:30 am but the 5K didn't start until 9:15 am, so we wandered around the booths through the mist and collected free goodies.

The race was the consummate moving Christmas party.

There were Santa Hats and ugly sweaters galore. I even saw a giant elf running with a baby Santa.

Unfortunately for me, my Christmas tree socks were not conducive to running and my festive feet were sliding around too much - even though I'd tightened my laces before the race.

I'm accustomed to wearing thicker socks and I believe the thin holiday socks were too slippery to be worn with my orthotics.

My shins were throbbing before I hit the Mile 1 marker and I ended up walking the majority of the remainder of the race.

Fortunately for me, it was a fun race with a scenic course that took us down the Venice Beach promenade past all the street vendors and booths.

The race was well organized and there were lots of volunteers full of holiday cheer.

After I'd crossed the Finish Line, I changed into my awesome Santa Monica - Venice Christmas Run technical shirt.

Despite the epic sock fail, I had a lot of fun and it was a great way to start off the Green Girl's Holiday Race Series.

...With the kids jingle belling,
And everyone telling you,
'Be of good cheer,'
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The Green Girl's Holiday Race Series

'Tis the season to be running!

For those of you who stay on top of The Running Green Girl's Race Schedule, you may have noticed that the Green Girl is doing a holiday race series this year.

It wasn't my intention to do every Christmas run in Southern California but I have a hard time saying no to really great causes.

This Saturday, I'm starting off my holiday race series running with Santa Claus at the beach at the Santa Monica - Venice Christmas Run. I even splurged and paid an extra $5 to get a technical shirt.

The following Saturday, I'm going to be doing the Santa Fun'd'-Run.

This race is organized by some fellow Sole Runners so I want to go out and show my support. Plus, we've all been promised a cupcake at the Finish Line.

And I'll follow the Santa cupcake run with a Winter Solstice Christmas Tree Run the next day.

The cool thing about this race is that every finisher will receive a Christmas tree.