News : Tour deLights 2012 brings runners from all over Iowa to Vinton

A runner crosses the Tour De LIghts finish line.

John Frazier prepares the runners for the race, which began with "Ho, ho, ho.!"

Christmas running: These Tour DeLights runners wore matching aprons

Lily Horst was overall women's winner.

Nathan Hopp recovered from a broken foot in time to return as men's winner.

The temperatures for each of the Tour DeLights.

Runners from all over Iowa – including the winner of last year’s Tour de Lights – have had the second weekend in December circled on their calendar all year to remind them to come to Vinton.

The eighth running of the Tour DeLights took place on Saturday; more than 125 people arrived at the Vinton Fire Station for the 5 p.m. More than 125 people lined up outside the fire station for the 5K run -- the largest crowd in Tour deLights history.

The temperature was around 30 degrees – warmer than usual for Tour DeLights – but a strong wind made conditions feel much colder.

Overall winners were Nathan Hopp of the Amanas and Lily Horst of Vinton. Hopp, who also won last year, one of the runners who make the Tour DeLights part of a schedule that includes running events some place in Iowa almost every week. He, however, had not run in an event since suffering a stress fracture in his foot.

“This is my first event since July,” said Hopp, after receiving the lighted gold medal from organizers.

Horst is the Vinton-Shellsburg High School freshman who along with another 9th-grade runner, Bristi Gerber, represented VSHS at the state cross country meet. Like they have for years, Horst and Gerber began Saturday’s race together.

The event raises money for the VSHS cross country and track teams. Along with many runners from all over Iowa, participants included VSHS students and teachers, and area residents, including a group of women who run together at area events, and wore matching holiday aprons and red and white stocking caps. Those ladies also wore those aprons to participate in the Cedar Falls Santa Snow Shuffle the day before Tour deLights.

See complete results HERE.