STORY: More than a thousand Santas turned a small German town into a sea of red on Sunday (December 7), as the annual Santa Run converged once again on Michendorf.

The red-robed and clothed participants are not only running to keep the chill out, but to earn their chocolate Santa, handed out by helpers of the local running club. Anyone dressed up in a Father Christmas costume is allowed to take part.

"People simply come to get in the mood for Advent and Christmas, and this is the biggest costumed Santa Claus run in Germany. With over 1,000 participants at the moment, it's just a beautiful sight," said Heiko Peschel, chairman of the local running club, which organises the event.

"Fun, it's just fun to run like this. It's just fun. It has to be fun. There are a few people here who are really great. The winning times are always impressive. But I think those are really well trained people," said runner Ulrich Kuehne.

First-time Santa Regina Tiller was thrilled. "I enjoyed the athletic challenge and the atmosphere so much that I did it for the first time this year. I'm thrilled, it's great!"

According to the local municipality it is the 17th time the run has taken place, as it always does on the 2nd Advent.

Runners competed in a variety of distances ranging from 2,5 to 10k. The children had their own competition on a distance of one kilometre, called the "Zipfelmützenlauf" (elf hat race).

The start and finish were both at the Michendorf community centre, where runners received a chocolate Santa.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MICHENDORF, GERMANY (DECEMBER 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. CHILDREN'S START OF THE MICHENDORF SANTA RUN

2. CHILDREN ARRIVING AT THE FINISHING LINE OF THE SANTA RUN

3. CHILDREN PASSING THE FINISHING LINE

4. EAST GERMAN TRABANT CAR TURNED INTO BARBECUE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEIKO PESCHEL, CHAIRMAN OF MICHENDORF RUNNING CLUB, SAYING:

"People simply come to get in the mood for Advent and Christmas, and this is the biggest costumed Santa Claus run in Germany. With over 1,000 participants at the moment, it's just a beautiful sight."

5. RUNNERS CLOTHED AS SANTAS BEFORE START

6. RUNNERS CLOTHED AS SANTAS WAVING

7. START OF THE SANTA RUN

8. VARIOUS OF SANTAS RUNNING BY

9. SANTAS RUNNING SEEN IN DISTANCE

10. TRADITIONAL SANTAS WITH CARRIAGE WALKING BY

11. FRONTRUNNER RUNNING PAST

12. SANTAS RUNNING BY

13. VARIOUS OF SPECTATORS APPLAUDING

14.VARIOUS OF SANTAS RUNNING

15. VARIOUS OF SANTAS RUNNING TO FINISHING LINE

16. SANTAS CROSSING FINISHING LINE

17. SANTAS ARRIVING AT FINISHING LINE

18. (SOUNDBITE) (German) ULRICH KUEHNE, SAYING:

"Yes, fun, it's just fun to run like this. It's just fun. It has to be fun. There are a few people here who are really great. The winning times are always impressive. But I think those are really well trained people."

19. RUNNER SHOWING HER CHOCOLATE SANTA

20. CHOCOLATE SANTAS HANDED OUT TO FINISHING SANTAS

21. (SOUNDBITE) (German) REGINE TILLER, SAYING:

"I enjoyed the athletic challenge and the atmosphere so much that I did it for the first time this year. I'm thrilled, it's great!"

22. ARRIVING SANTAS AFTER FINISHING LINE

23. (SOUNDBITE) (German)STEPHAN SEIFERT, SAYING:

"Yes, very happy. Exactly, this time it was really fun, it was nice and warm. It was great, it was fun. Every year again. We've been doing it for over ten years. It's a fixed date in the calendar."

24. TWO PEOPLE HANDING OUT CHOCOLATE SANTAS TO SANTA RUNNERS

25. SANTAS PICKING UP TEA AT STALL