{"id":165972,"date":"2023-12-07T21:00:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T02:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasburygirl.com\/?p=165972"},"modified":"2023-12-07T19:55:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T00:55:04","slug":"santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj\/","title":{"rendered":"Asbury Park Santa Run: How This Annual Holiday Event Came to Be"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-800x533.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"santa run 5k asbury park nj\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1-263x175.jpg 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">happenings<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twenty-first-century Asbury Park has a lot to be proud of. Each new year sees the continuation of old, and the addition of new, <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/volunteering-jersey-shore-new-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">community events<\/a> that celebrate and elevate the hopes and concerns of area residents. Even something as run-derfully silly as the annual Santa Run tells a story of the dedication to care and kindness found so frequently in Asbury Park. <strong>Read on to learn more about this iconic event in Asbury Park.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-165979\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"santa run 5k asbury park nj\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>A Very Merry 5K<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Saturday, December 2nd, the eighth annual Santa Run brought well over 3,000 to the not-too-chilly streets of Asbury Park. When the inaugural Asbury Park 5K <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apsantarun.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Run<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> took place in 2016, it was an immediate success. This year\u2019s crowd made it evident that Asbury Park just grows jollier every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-165976\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"santa run 5k asbury park nj runners\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-runners.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Read More:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/ghost-stories-stephen-crane-jersey-shore-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The History of Stephen Crane&#8217;s Ghost Stories at the Jersey Shore<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each year, on the first December weekend, runners and walkers of all abilities don their very own Santa suit \u2014 provided with their registration for the race \u2014 and that visual of so many Santas swarming the streets brings a smile to even the grinchiest Christmas grump.\u00a0 The closed-course race takes place on the streets of <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/donations-asbury-park-jersey-shore-nj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asbury Park,<\/a> starting and finishing at the legendary <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stone Pony<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>And To All a Good Run<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2023 race winner was Alex Dweck of <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/beach-club-restaurant-long-branch-new-jersey-avenue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Long Branch<\/a> as he was the fastest of the Santas with an official run time of 16 minutes, 20 seconds. Speed, however, is less the focus of this particular run than camaraderie and fun. The snow machine-fueled fanfare that greeted the last slew of Santas to circle back around the course was as festive as the flurry of cheer that greeted the first to cross the finish line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-165978\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"santa run 5k asbury park nj stony pony\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-stony-pony.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As if a teeming mob of red-suited Santas barreling down Cookman Avenue were not enough to make every spirit bright, the annual Asbury Park Santa Run ends with a series of crazy fun after-party events. The 2023 parties featured Brian Kirk + the Jirks at the Stone Party, and Nine Deez Nite at the Wonder Bar, along with the Ocean Ave Stomper\u2019s Holiday Stomp at Asbury Lanes, and the Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar in the Convention Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Spirit of Giving<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The race is, at first glance, just a ridiculous romp \u2014 Asbury Parkers playing their wacky reindeer games. However, there is a lot more to this 5K than costumed group exercise. The Santa Run is an effective fundraiser too, raising money for local organization, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lunchbreak.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lunch Break<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This Monmouth County non-profit provides healthy food, a clothing boutique, mentoring support, and programs to bring life skills and job readiness tools to community members who need the help. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lunchbreak.org\/lunch-break-legacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Norma Todd<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who directed Lunch Break from its founding as a small food pantry in 1983 until she died in 2008 at age 87 believed in the power of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/ocean-cleanup-stroke-your-ego-nj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caring community<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Thousands of Asbury Park Santas prove her right every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-165975\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"santa run 5k asbury park nj holiday event\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/santa-run-5k-asbury-park-nj-holiday-event.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>See More: <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobokengirl.com\/5k-runs-turkey-trots-north-jersey-2023\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>5K Runs + Turkey Trots for 2023 in New Jersey\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about the race and sign up for next year\u2019s event, visit the website <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apsantarun.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. To stay in the know with everything happening in Asbury Park, follow @theasburygirl on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theasburygirl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a> + <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@theasburygirl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TikTok<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/category\/lifestyle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-120157\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719-800x240.jpg\" alt=\"read more button\" width=\"300\" height=\"90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719-800x240.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719-1024x307.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719-768x230.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719-585x176.jpg 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/jerseyshore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/1-e1658249565719.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>happeningsTwenty-first-century Asbury Park has a lot to be proud of. Each new year sees the continuation of old, and the addition of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":358,"featured_media":165981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9644,9642,8833,8834,8828,9479,728,7997,9259,9640,2569,9263],"tags":[9677,9673,9678],"class_list":["post-165972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asbury-park","category-beach-activities","category-culture","category-entertainment","category-events","category-local-events-news","category-health-wellness","category-lifestyle","category-seasons","category-jersey-shore-towns","category-art","category-winter","tag-asbury-park","tag-jersey-shore","tag-new-jersey"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - 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