Santa Speedo Run 2012 pictures

Participants in the 13th annual Santa Speedo Run turned out in droves for registration and libations at Lir Tavern on Boylston Street before the approximate one-mile run on Dec. 8. The run started at the corner of Gloucester and Boylston Streets and benefitted The Play Ball! Foundation, an organization that provides Boston-area middle school students with the opportunity to learn team sports. Skimpy Santa-inspired attire was strongly suggested.

Pictured: Billerica residents Nick Capone, Corey Loder, Mark Capone, and Katie Banfield. This is the group’s third year running in the scantily-clad Santa event.

A view of the scene inside Lir before the run began.

First-time runners Molly Bagshaw of New York and Chis Hamel of Boston were very excited to partake in Santa Speedo.

From left: Mike Morrison and Kim Sibley, both of Boston. Morrison toted along a miniature version of the Abominable Snowman from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’’

First-time runner Katie Halas smiled in her festive gear.

From left: Loren Kantoz,of Swampscott, Andrea Choly, of South Boston, and Zoe Karademos, of Marblehead, are all first-time runners. “We are all here to help out kids, “said Karademos.

A runner cheered at the finish line on Gloucester Street.

Caroline Dunn of Boston decided to take part at Santa Speedo Run to support her friends who also were running.

From left: Tarah Pertes, Marco Polo, and Meg Fox, all of Boston. “We are here to raise money for children,’’ explained Fox.

From left: Shea Standefer from San Diego and Jim Gillispie, of Boston. “I am running for the second time. I came to Boston from San Diego specifically for this run,’’ Standefer said.

From left: Carissa Newhouse and Carol Perez, both of New York City, were first -time runners.

What better way to prep for run than push-ups? Two runners got down on the ground and showed off their strength.

Groups lined up and cheered each other on before the start of the one-mile jaunt down Boylston Street.

Participants started off down Boylston in front of Hynes Convention Center.

Teams of runners cheered with spectators as they made their way down Boylston Street.

From left: Kaitlin, Kate, Erin, and Danielle, all of Boston, were running as a group.

Members of Team Zooming Santaz stopped by the after party at Lir.

A runner began the race on Newbury Street on Saturday afternoon.

Danielle Paratore of Concord posed in her festive attire.

Runners chanted as they walked to the starting line.

Tamara Tierney and Matt Kuhlik of Belchertown attended the festivities.

Melissa Fitzmaurice of Somerville, Marina Mameli of Peabody, Jamie Ramirez of Somerville, Eric Lampedecchio of Revere, and Tracie Michel of Haverhill held up a Santa banner.

Fifth-time runner Christian Heath of Somerville with Jackie Knoblock of Plymouth. Knoblock was not running but attended the event for moral support. “She’s my elf,’’ Heath said.

Lynn Julian with her dog, Lil’ Stinker, of Boston. Julian is part of Team Skimpy Santas and has been running Santa Speedo for 10 years. Julian broke her leg this year and decided to partake in the event via pedicab.

Team Sticky Bandits members Eric Marchese and John Dileo of Brighton.

Marco and Quincy of Boston.

Ryan Staulin, Nate Fritz, and Cliff Robins of Boston.

Ivan and Brenda from Team She Blinded Me with Science.

Sergio Mazon of Boston.

It was Anne Herman of Swampscott’s first time running Santa Speedo but she said she attended many times prior as a spectator.

Heather Pruiksma of Ayer and Mark Graely of West Roxbury.

Katarina Chin of Bloomfield, N.J. and Don Bailey of South Boston. Bailey was joined by a Santa-themed Dora the Explorer, perched atop his head.

Jess, Joe, and Tamiko of Boston have been running Santa Speedo together since 2006.

Many runners painted messages on their back for the run.

First time runner Conor Pedro of Weymouth with second time runner Jaclyn Zeoli of South Boston.

From left: First-time Santa Speedo runner Katie Halas of Wilmington, fifth-time runner Sean O’Donnell of Cambridge, fourth-time runner Erin Dorrance of Wilmington, and sixth-time runner Josh Hiltz of Stoneham.

Third year runner Nick Barbarise flew in from Lyndhurst, N.J. for the event. For the three years before that, he made the trip from Florida. He stopped for some airbrushed ink on Lir’s upper floor.

Mike Joyce and Rich Klimm of Boston. It was Joyce’s sixth year running and Klimm’s first.

Kevin Benham of Somerville dressed as Jack Frost. It was Benham’s fourth year running Santa Speedo. In 2011 he dressed as Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.’’

From left: Brendan Dyer of New London, Conn., Dan Cavanough of Portsmouth, N.H., Jeff Stone of Brighton, and Demetri Kouloheras of Brighton stop for a photo at Lir before the run.

From left: Tracy Stone of Jamaica Plain, Rob Silva of Roslindale, Andrew Choly of South Boston, Ed Everett of Somerville, and Scott Itri of Roslindale went with a blue theme instead of the conventional Santa-suit red.

From left: Pace Ricciardelli of Boston and Julie Wurl of New Bedford, were ready to go in their festive gear.

From left: John C. of Conn., M. Golik of Boston, and P. Golik of Conn. show off their body art.

From left: Aja Munsell and Aaron Seigler of Somerville posed for a picture while enjoying the scenery at Lir.

From left: Three-time runner Stephen Devine of Waltham convinced Andrew Wirth of Waltham to run because it was “awesome.”

Don Bailey of South Boston lit up the room at Lir with his Santa Speedo getup.

From left: Melissa Fitzmaurice of Somerville, and Jaime Ramirez of Somerville, welcomed first-time runner Traci Michel, of Haverhill.

Santa Speedo runners gathered by the enterance of Lir before heading out to the starting line.

At about 12:45 p.m., runners took their marks outside the bar, clad in holiday-themed gear

Runners donned festive hats for the occasion.

Wet Bandits team members Charlie Hixson and Dave Bates of Boston.

Fifth year runner Sean O’Donell of Cambridge.

Pictured are runners on Goucester Street after the event.

A photographer snapped a shot of the run.

Ted was leading jumping jacks on Newbury Street with runners dressed as Santa joinng in.

The runners sprint through Newbury Street.

A runner high fived a passerby during the run.

Chuck Mattera on Boylston Street before race.

Participants hammed it up before the run.

Traffic on Boylston Street was halted as runners lined up at the starting line.

Santa Speedo runners stopped in the middle of the Boylston Street too do some pushups.

A participant covered in holiday stickers prepped before the start of the run.

The run will started and end at Lir Tavern at 903 Boylston Street.

The participants ran approximate 1 mile.

Runners took off and began the event on Boylston Street.

Santa Speedo runners proceeded down Boylston Street to Berkeley Street.

Spectators—and some unsuspecting Boston visitors—paused along Boylston and Gloucester as the runners took off.

Injuries didn’t stop people from partaking in the holiday-themed festivities.

Santa Speedo participants mingled before the run. The event raised over $260,000 for the Play Ball Foundation.

Groups holding a teddy bear from the film “Ted’’ prepared for the run in front of Hynes Convention Center.

A team took off toward the starting line.

The group then ran back up Newbury Street to Gloucester Street, ending back at Lir.

Runners wore everything from bikini-bottoms to Santa costumes.

Santa Speedo know how to fire up a crowd.

The runners made their way on Newbury Street and got the crowd excited.

The participants gave high-fives to supporters.

The group called “Skimpy Santa’’ posed for photos on Newbury Street.

A particpant high-fived a taxi driver at the race.

Some participants chose non-traditional gear for the run.

Even Ted from Mark Wahlberg’s “Ted’’ ran and made an appearance at the before and after parties in a speedo of his own.

So did his toysize counterparts.

A 4 year old service dog, Mika, who helps veterans with PTSD, raised $3, 000.

The runner Chuck Mattera proposed to his girlfriend Tina after the run.

Tina said “yes.’’

The couple embraced each other after the proposal.

Tina showed off her ring to everyone.

Santa Speedo participant cheered each other at the end of the run.

Friends, family, and fans greeted participants at the end of the run.

A group of runners paused for photos on Gloucester and Newbury.

Team Skimpy Santas made their way up Gloucester Street toward the finish line.

From left: Loren Rennen, Tarah Mahoney, and Brandy O’Brien, all of Boston, are third-year runners. They fell behind during the run, and waited for the rest of the group on Newbury Street.

Chris Viveiros and Michael Poliquin of Jamacia Plain.

From left: Chris Kirsch, Thorsten Maly, Paul Chen, Sean Brooks, all of Boston. “This event is such a good excuse to be naked,’’ said Kirish.’’

A runner and a Southern Comfort balloon at the after party.

From left: Leanne and Matt Kennis of Natick stopped by Lir before the run.

From left: Jared Harris and Aveda Robinson, both of Boston, were ready for their run.

From left: Bot Fatunimsk of Boston, Nicole Cammorata of Somerville, Geb Winslow of Boston, and Peter Cornish from New Hampshire.

From left: Stephen O’Connor, Mike Butler, Matt Schetne, all of Boston, are the first-time runners. “We are very excited for this run, it’s our first time, “ said Butler.