Are you running any festive races to stay healthy during the holidays this year? My friend S and I ran the Santa Hustle 5k race on Saturday morning at Soldier Field. It was a chilly morning, but a great run to start the holiday season in the first full week of December. Thanks to TrailHeads for sending me new winter running gear to review and giveaway today – the TrailHeads ponytail headband and convertible mittens. Scroll to the end of this post to enter {giveaway closes at midnight on December 19}!
The Santa Hustle is an extra festive race, with red shirts, Santa hats, and beards for all. I opted not to run with the Santa headgear, but most of the other runners stayed in the holiday spirit.
The 5k race started and ended south of Soldier Field and looped back north along the lakefront path. More than 4,000 runners finished this year! The race featured huge blow-up holiday favorites and even a pair of reindeer.
Real reindeer and pretend. S and I obviously posed with this:
Even though we skipped the hats and beards for the run, we did wear matching holiday socks {which were thin and freezing – note to self}.
5k Race Results:
Time: 29:36
Pace: 9:32/mile
Place: 780 out of 4,160 runners
It was a great race, and I would run it again. My only criticism from the morning is the packet pickup. We waited in line for over 40 minutes – I hope they add more packet pickup options and volunteers next year. We finished the morning with breakfast sandwiches and coffee at Starbucks. I tried the Holiday Spice Flat White with coconut milk and I’m hooked!
Temps were in the low 30s to start the race, so I was glad to have new warm gear from TrailHeads to try. The ponytail headband is snug and keeps your ears warm + hair in place while running. I just got a shorter haircut last week with a bang trim, so this headband was perfect for the race. The convertible mittens also kept my hands super warm. My favorite part of these mittens is the thumb sleeve and finger sleeve – simply flip the sleeve back and your fingers are free to change music, find your keys, etc. There is even a magnet on the thumb sleeve to keep it in place.
Because I loved trying the TrailHeads gear, I’m hosting a holiday giveaway for one reader to win a set of winter gear from TrailHeads – one ponytail headband and one pair of convertible mittens! This giveaway is open from December 8 to midnight on December 19 for U.S. residents only. The winner will be contacted by email on December 19 for sizes and a mailing address, and TrailHeads will mail the products directly from their office.
For more information on TrailHeads, visit the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
{Disclosure: As I mentioned above, I received a free TrailHeads ponytail headband and pair of convertible mittens to review and giveaway to readers. All opinions / text are my own.}
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I’m Celia. I live in the Chicago area. I'm a mama of two, runner, business owner and former Iowan. My blog includes recipes, fitness and travel posts, and stories about Chicago.
Since I live in the frozen tundra, I NEED THESE!
I love my TrailHeads gear! Those mittens are the best! I wear them for everything, running, snowshoeing, errands, even photography when its cold out because I can keep my hands warm and my fingers free! 🙂
I've never done a Christmas themed race but I love the costumes, it looks so cute.
I have very little cold weather running gear! I need some stuff to keep me warm!
I would love to wear these early in 2016 once I'm cleared from my OB to resume running again.
I love that headband–even though my ponytail is merely a nub….
That trailheads band looks perfect. I can handle a cold nose but NOT cold ears! Now that I'm in Oregon and it's regularly in the 30s through winter, I'd be wearing that all over town and on the trails. Maybe even just to go do errands or when I take Moxie to the dog park!
I would wear these on my runs outside. Don't like wearing hats so these would be perfect!
Living in the mid-west I need this! Love that it fits around the ponytail.
I live in Colorado — I could TOTALLY use some mittens and a headband that keeps my ears warm! Nothing worse than running with cold ears….
That looks like so much fun! There's a similar run here in Vermont and I love seeing everyone dressed up. I entered the giveaway too. Thanks for hosting.
It works now, go figure! I love the gear you're wearing and also all the runs and walks around the holidays!
That looks so fun! I want to see if they have one close to me next year! The Trailheads gear sounds AWESOME and totally what I need for my January 9 5k. It's going to be coooooold!
Well, unfortunately I'm not a runner so I'd probably just wear it while I'm out and about int he evenings looking at Christmas lights. Lame, right?
Not at all! I love walking around looking at holiday lights 🙂 I still haven't put my window lights up yet though…
OMG the santa hat race looks so fun! And how funny that your go-to drink is mine – the Holiday Spice Flat White I loved trying the other day, and I usually get Flat Whites with Coconut Milk so I was about to try that tonight but they were out of the spice thing at the Starbucks I visited.
I'd give the headband to my wife and keep the gloves for myself because my hands are always ice cold. They do say "cold hands – warm heart!"
How fun! I've yet to run a race during the holidays, but this looks like a blast! Will have to look for one here!
hooray for winter running gear! I'm always looking for the "right" headgear for the weather since it seems to be constantly changing these days – some hats are too hot/sweaty, this pair of ear warmers dont stay on, this one gives me a headache its so tight….would LOVE to give this one a try!
I need these in Minnesota
I love a chilly trail run or hike, but a headband is a must! This looks great! Also, I commute on a bike and these gloves seem perfect: I hate having to take off my gloves to unlock my bike, put on lights, etc. The convertible mittens seem great!
Fingers crossed! 🙂
Sarah, you won! I just emailed you to get your size and mailing address. Happy Holidays!