Santa Hustle Sadness

As a runner few things are more exciting than RACE DAY. I mean you constantly train and eat healthy to stay in shape and be able to compete and participate in a handful of “fun” races throughout the year. I used to compete in FULL marathons. That’s when I was younger and crazier. Hahaha. Now I’m completely satisfied finishing a 13.1 mile half marathon. My knees and lower back are grateful for the change.

When training for the big day you never actually run the full distance for the race which you’re registered to compete. You save the FULL distance for race day. Many runners live by the words, “I’ll run the full 13 miles (or 26) when I’m doing it for my coveted MEDAL”.

Yesterday, Sunday December 22, 2024 was the Santa Hustle here in Galveston, Texas. My husband and I were both registered and paid for the half marathon. The race is one of my least favorite that we participate in each season. It caters more towards the 5k draw- it pulls 3500 runners! The race advertises candy and cookie stations that are part of the race ON THE ROUTE- this is a fucking lie. There are ZERO candy stations along the race route. There are goodies for racers at the end, but it’s slim pickins once reaching the finish line just shy of three hours. The 3500 5k participants have pretty much wiped everything out. It’s the same every year. I’ve gotten used to it. Last year there was an M&M station at the very end of the race on the route! Not this year though! I try and stay positive. I smile. I tell myself it’s going to be ok if you don’t get a banana or a bag of Doritos. I mean I only paid MORE than all these 5k fucks!!! Why should I expect treatment like I paid more?!? Oh, because I did!!!!

Well, it’s the complete opposite. We worked it out and Santa Hustled our asses 13.1 miles to the finish line – in front of 68 others (we always count). Now I shouldn’t even have to tell you that the BEST part of finishing a half marathon is receiving the BLING at the end. It’s bigger than a 5k finisher medal. It means more. It takes more work to earn it. It takes more money to earn it. It takes more TIME to earn it. I could go on and on and on. I love my medals. I collect them.

Yesterday was horrific. As we approached the finish line I could sense something was wrong. There were a couple girls there talking with the volunteers and as we came across the finish line there were no congratulations and not one volunteer to adorn our necks with runner rewards! They were too busy explaining to the runners that had just finished before us that they were sorry, but they ran out of half marathon finisher medals. Yes. You read that correctly. I paid about $200 for two registrations and we just completed a half marathon and we’re literally greeted with SORRY at the finish line.

How the fuck does that happen?! I registered and paid in OCTOBER. How did you not have enough medals for the participants?! It doesn’t even make sense. I am BEYOND upset. I don’t even know what emotion I’m experiencing. I love race day. I love being the annoying person who wears my medal ALL DAY LONG EVERYWHERE I GO. I was completely deprived of my accomplishment and being proud of it!!! I think they should refund my fucking money AAAAAAAND send me my fucking medals.

Galveston County Food Bank is the major source for all the volunteers, so emails sent and hoping they’ll care and help. Whoever runs their Facebook page is completely in the dark that this even happened. When I just commented on a post that I didn’t get my finishers medal they responded that they were handed to you as you crossed the finish line. Lololol NO SHIT SHERLOCK!? How do they not know!?!?

I do have a back up plan if they fuck me over. I’ll report the charge on my card as fraud and I’ll never register, pay, run the Santa Hustle again….but bet your ass next year I’ll walk right over there and get my half marathon finisher medal. A year late. They won’t have to hand it to me. I’ll just take one…. then I’m heading to the snack table.

Xoxo, AB

UPDATE: Someone from Santa’s Hustle headquarters has responded and I’m assured my medal will be in the mail… promptly.