Photo= Smiling runners in Santa costumes hit the road (December 23, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto)

The annual "Santa Marathon" event took place on December 23, just before Christmas Day, along the Kamo River's right bank in Kyoto City. Participants in Santa costumes ran through the course at their own pace.

Held for the 12th time, this event created by "Santa Claus ni Naro Kai," or Let's become Santa Claus club, takes place annually on December 23. Club members are mainly Kyoto residents who love running. This year, approximately 130 runners joined the race, with participants ranging in age from one to 82 years old, and including foreign runners for the first time.

On a day of perfect weather for running, participants in Christmas costumes of Santa Claus or reindeer started from Maruta-machi Bridge in Kamigyo Ward at 11:00 a.m. They challenged the 100-minute running event held on a round-trip course between Maruta-machi Bridge and Sanjo Ohashi Bridge in Nakagyo Ward which is roughly one kilometer long.

Some energetic child runners ran at full throttle, and residents strolling along the riverbank cheered the runners on.