Reindeer vs. Kiawah: Runners have to choose this year

Imagine if one year Thanksgiving Day were moved from the fourth Thursday of November to the third, or Memorial Day from the last Monday of May to the second to last, or Labor Day ... well, you get the picture.

It would catch lots of people off guard.

We're used to those holidays being on those particular days of the month.

Organizers of outdoor events tend to use the same sort of scheduling pattern so that people know years in advance when to plan to do them, year after year. The same usually applies to local road races.

So count me among the dozens of runners and walkers who were disappointed upon realizing, if they have even realized it yet, that this year's 31st annual Kiawah Island Marathon and Half Marathon was moved from the second Saturday in December to the first.

What's the big deal? Kiawah now is inadvertently pitted against the Reindeer Run 5K in downtown Charleston. And both are favorites among local runners for different reasons.

Kiawah is the only local marathon and the only consistent local half-marathon offering people a challenging race at a perfect time — at the end of the fall race season and before the travel, parties and laziness of the Christmas-Hanukkah-New Year's holidays.

Meanwhile, for the past 18 years, the Reindeer Run also has established itself as a holiday tradition among local runners because of the unique blend of competitive running with the festive nature of costumes, dogs and a great charity. The event has raised more than $250,000 for the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital, including $50,000 last year.

Granted, Kiawah's date switch didn't just happen. It's been on the calendar that way for more than a year. Dylan Jones, a longtime Kiawah Marathon organizer, says the date switch was due to a large block of rooms being booked, nearly two years ago, for the second weekend in December.

As of Tuesday afternoon, he said he didn't know who had made the reservation.

"It's a rarity (to switch the date)," says Jones. "It's not an anomaly because it (moving the date to the first Saturday) has happened before. ... I think it was the right decision."

Like many people, I signed up for Kiawah's half when registration opened Aug. 1, and it still didn't dawn on me until just recently that the event is the same day as the Reindeer Run. I'm not entirely sure I would have paid my $75 fee if I had known.

Being a reporter, I'll admit being a bit embarrassed not realizing it until two weeks ago, and I wanted some reassurance that I wasn't the only one with my head in beach sand. So with the help of former Charleston Running Club President Dan Clapper, I sent out an e-mail asking local runners if they knew and, if they did, which favorite they were choosing.

Generally, many didn't know, some were disappointed and almost all had a distinct preference.

Though runners such as 67-year-old Ed Brinkley wouldn't dream of running a 5K a week before a half-marathon or marathon, many do both. (You don't have to run the 5K hard, and, even if you do, opinions differ on the amount of recovery time needed before a long race. Frankly, a lot of it depends on your fitness level and age, but that's another story.)

Here's what some had to say:

Dorothy Anderson: "In early August when I signed up for the Kiawah Island Half Marathon, I had no idea that it was on the same Saturday as the Reindeer Run. My whole family usually runs (or) walks the Reindeer Run. It is always the beginning of the holiday season for us. Seeing I have already paid for the half-marathon, I guess I will be running at Kiawah while my 86-year-old dad (Robert Millard) and husband will be at the Reindeer Run. Hopefully these (races) will not be a conflict next year!"

Sheri Irwin: "Bummer. I signed up for the Kiawah half and I did not realize they fell on the same day."

Monica Kimbler: "I, too, was disappointed when I saw that Kiawah was the same day! When it came down to it, I chose the Reindeer Run because Kiawah's entry fee was too high. It is a great run, but with the price of gas and the two-hour drive from Summerville, downtown for the Reindeer Run is a better choice. Plus I have a new dog, my English Lab Sunny, this year that I hope to run with."

Camelia (last name not provided): "I am running Kiawah (because) I wanted to run my first marathon. (It) would have been nice that these two races were apart, but like I said, my primary goal was to run a marathon. In August, I did not realize that Kiawah and Reindeer Tun were both on Dec. 6 when I signed up for the marathon."

Chuck Magera: "There are/were plenty of open weekends in December. Kiawah, and the former Island Marathon, have almost always been the on the second weekend of December. The Reindeer Run has been a tune-up in the past for those wanting to run Kiawah. I don't know why Kiawah moved this year, but I would suspect that they have another group (not runners) that prompted the move that makes them more money. Kiawah has become a moneymaker for Kiawah and a bane for the running community."

Andy Tedesco: "The costumes, no huge on-island traffic jams, dogs with antlers, free beer, two-year age group awards for kids, fantastic soft cookies, no Sunday post-marathon muscular and joint agony and did a I say free beer? Reindeers RULE!"

Anne Boone: "I signed up for the Kiawah half (marathon) a couple of months ago. There aren't many long races around here, as you know, and I didn't want to miss it. The training for a longer race takes a lot of commitment, too. ... I'm really disappointed to miss the Reindeer Run, but there are lots of other 5Ks to run. Hopefully next year there won't be a conflict."

Chuck Hooker: "Reindeer versus Kiawah. They are both great events. I enjoy participating in each. This year I will do the Reindeer Run instead of the Kiawah Half (because of several factors). 1. I think the Kiawah Half is overpriced. If it were $50, I might have given it more consideration. They do put on a great meal at the end, but not $75 worth. 2. Logistically, Reindeer Run is easier. 3. Monies raised from Reindeer Run go to worthy local charities. To me, that is very important. I am not aware of any charity affiliation for the Kiawah run. 4. Reindeer is much more FUN! I can run with my dog and even dress him up. It's much more festive!"

Steve Griffin: "I'm running Kiawah because it's the only local half-marathon in December. I always like to run races that give a portion of the entry fee to a charity. To the best of my knowledge, the Reindeer Run does and Kiawah does not. For that reason, I would have run the Reindeer Run, too, if the schedule had been different."

Tanis Manseau: "I will be running in the Reindeer Race. I have never been a big fan of the Kiawah course. There is not anything wrong with it, I just do not enjoy running it. I do like running downtown. With the shorter race distance and commute, my family can accompany me and participate."

So there you have it.

Charleston is a great place to live, in part, because there are so many activities available. Sometimes, in fact, it's hard to choose which ones to do. And it's too bad that people will have to choose between two events this year that aren't usually in conflict.

NOVEMBER RUNS

The Lowcountry's busiest month for running and walking events tends to be November. This year is no exception. Ready, set, go!

SATURDAY

-- 10th James Island Connector 10K Run and 5K Walk in Charleston: jamesislandconnectorrun.com.

-- 7th Newington Elementary School PTA Run With the Dolphins 5K run and mile fun run in Summerville: runwiththedolphins.com.

NOV. 8

-- 17th Hilton Head Bridge Run 10K and 5K: bearfootsports.com.

-- 9th Old Village Harbor Run 5K in Mount Pleasant: townofmountpleasant.com.

-- 3rd annual Green & Lean 5K at Brittlebank Park: earthforce.org/charleston.

-- Run 'til the Cows Come Home 5K at Precious Blood Catholic Church, Pawleys Island: active.com.

NOV. 13

-- Holiday Festival of Lights Fun (noncompetitive) 2-mile Run & Walk, James Island County Park: ccprc.com.

NOV. 15

-- 24th Run for Thanks 5-Mile in Pinopolis: strictlyrunning.com.

-- 2nd Folly Beach 10-Mile Run and 5-Mile Walk: extramileinc.com.

-- Inaugural Charleston Tea Plantation/MUSC Faye Mitchell Memorial 5K on Wadmalaw Island: active.com.

NOV. 22

-- Give Thanks, One Step at a Time 5K walk at Northwoods Mall: givethankswalk.org.

NOV. 27

-- 31st annual Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble 5K in Charleston: turkeydayrun.com.

Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postand courier.com.

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