Running of the Reindeer planned in Alaska

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Organizers of the Running of the Reindeer in Anchorage, Alaska, say 40 people have already registered to race the reindeer down Fourth Avenue.

The event, scheduled to follow the final heat of the World Championship Sled Dog Race on Feb. 24, will allow people who paid $20 to run down the street alongside a group of reindeer -- a race modeled after the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, the Anchorage Daily News reported Thursday.

Bob Lester, a local disc jockey who came up with the idea, said the event -- a fundraiser for Toys for Tots -- is expected to be popular, but organizers are capping participation at 1,000 people.

"I think we'll have to turn people away," Lester said.

Tom Williams, a reindeer farmer who is supplying animals for the event, said the reindeer run is nowhere near as dangerous as its Spanish counterpart.

"They can't hurt you by biting you, goring you or kicking you," he said.