Holiday fun runs

The holidays are upon us. And what are the holidays without festive fun runs?

Gingerbread men jogging 5Ks. Elves sprinting with kids. And Santa Claus racing 10Ks.

The metro area’s holiday cheer began Thanksgiving morning. Runners across Clark County hit the streets for turkey trots before filling their bellies.

Once the turkeys were gone, it was time for the Santa suits.

Runners kicked off the winter holidays last weekend, with nearly 1,500 people participating in the annual Hot Buttered Run at Pearson Air Museum.

If you missed the Hot Buttered Run, don’t worry. There are plenty of holiday fun runs left on the calendar.

Here’s a list of some upcoming events:

Dec. 1: Ridgefield Holiday Fun Run – 9 a.m. in downtown Ridgefield. Includes 5K run/walk and 10K run.

Dec. 2: Jingle Bell Run – 8:50 a.m. at the World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., in downtown Portland. Includes 5K run/walk, 1K Kids Fun Run with elves, holiday costume contest and ugly holiday sweater contest.

Dec. 8: Clark County Running Club’s Lincoln School Holiday Run – 10 a.m. at Lincoln Elementary School in Vancouver. Course is 4.3 miles. Candy canes awarded to finishers.

Dec. 16: Holiday Half – 8 a.m. at Adidas North America Headquarters, 5055 N. Greeley Ave., Portland. Includes a half marathon and 5K.

And if you want to participate in an upcoming fun holiday event that has “run” in the title, but isn’t really much of a run, check out the Santa Speedo Run in Portland.

Participants cash in beer tickets and eat appetizers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1 and then go on a short run/walk.

The Santa Speedo Run is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Ethiopia Project, which fits those in need with running shoes in numerous towns throughout Ethiopia.

Want to start the new year off on the right foot? Check out these runs in January:

Jan. 1: Annual Hangover 5K – 10 a.m. at Fort Vancouver Barracks (Start on Fifth Street). The event is hosted by the Clark County Running Club.

Jan. 6: Resolution Run – 10 a.m. at Battle Ground Village, 802 S.E. 14th Ave. Includes 5K, 10K, 1K Cub Run and Polar Bear Slide into cold water.