It's only October, but Nancy Husser is already thinking about Santa. More specifically, she's focused on the Santa Run and Walk, a 5K organized by the Manheim Lions Club. The race, which encourages participants to dress in Santa costumes or other holiday garb, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7. It will begin in Manheim Square at 8:30 a.m.

"The Santa 5K is a fun event," Husser said. "We start with Christmas music in the square all morning until the start of the race. The 5K course takes you through the west side of Manheim. We do encourage residents to come out and cheer the participants on."

The course is relatively flat, she shared, with a hill around the 2-mile mark. Both walkers and runners are encouraged to participate. "We have a range of participants from (ages) 6 to 76," Husser said. "We will have bananas, water and chocolate milk for all finishers. Plus, this year we will have cash prizes for the top three overall male and female runners as well as medals for various age groups."

The first Santa Run began nine years ago, coordinated by Reenie Ober, who at that time was the executive director of the Manheim Downtown Development Group. "She organized the first Santa 5K, and then the Manheim Lions Club has been sponsoring it every year since then," Husser said.

Whether people are participating or attending as spectators, the Santa Run will offer an entertaining experience, she said. "It is just a lot of fun to do something on a December morning and then to visit all the shops in town, have breakfast and just enjoy Manheim in general," Husser shared. "It is just a fun community event in Manheim, and it just gets you into the Christmas spirit.  Just come out and feel the Christmas spirit."

The cost of registration for the race will increase after Friday, Nov. 1. People age 15 and older who register before Friday, Nov. 15, may receive a Santa suit or a quarter-zip pullover, and youths age 14 and younger may receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and a Santa hat if registration is received before that date. Race-day registration will be accepted beginning at 7 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, located at 48 Market Square, but will not include a Santa suit or sweatshirt. To register for the race, visit http://www.runsignup.com and search for "Manheim Santa 5K Run and Walk."