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By Megan Riesz
Brooklyn Daily
Run, little reindeers, run!
Hundreds of kids sporting reindeer antlers and jingle bells sprinted through Prospect Park on Dec. 7 for the first-ever Reindeer Run, a kids-only addition to the fourth annual Jingle Bell Jog put on by the New York Road Runners. The young romper-stompers had a jingle ball on the half-mile course, according to organizers.
“It’s always a great festive run, and the mood was incredible,” said New York Road Runners spokeswoman Laura Paulus. “There’s always going to be different runners concerned with time who are not going to wear anything that weighs them down — but so many of the kids took this as a fun run.”
Some of the kids even ran in the four-mile Jingle Bell Jog, either alongside their parents or by themselves, Paulus said.
“It’s such a great experience,” said 13-year-old Hannah Sobel.
The run and jog raised more than $200,000 for New York Road Runners, which funds school-based running teams and youth fitness programs.
“The festive spirit and young runners that distinguish the event promote New York Road Runner’s vision of making running a part of every child’s daily life and illustrate how running empowers people of all ages to be healthy and fulfilled,” said Road Runners youth manager Cliff Sperber in a statement.