I was in good company for lunch today in down town Roanoke… The Jingle Bell Run and Walk for Arthritis planning committee invited me to be a part of the planning process for the event this year and next year’s 20th anniversary…

WSLS 10 has been a sponsor of the event for years and I have helped out with it for the past several years but my duties are typically relegated to the day of the event…

Today really helped me understand the tireless process that so many of our local organizations go through to put on an event that draws hundreds of people while helping a good cause at the same time…  and that was just from one brainstorming lunch meeting. 

One thing that makes the Jingle Bell Run so much fun is the fact that it is during the holidays which makes it perfect for families to participate or for a group of friends to start a fitness plan now that culminates with the Jingle Bell Run or Walk in December.

Perhaps getting into the swing of things now will help fight off those extra pounds we all tend to put on during the holidays…because you know that one co-worker who is constantly baking and trying out new recipes will be bringing in a batch of cookies or brownies regularly and placing them on the desk that is two feet away from yours. While you are getting and staying fit you will also be helping those who go through each day dealing with the pain of Arthritis.

Wouldn’t it be great if the people we love and care about who suffer from Arthritis would finally have a cure that relieved that constant joint ache and pain permanently?  That is just one of the goals of the Arthritis Foundation through events like the Jingle Bell 5k run and 1 mile walk.

Now is the perfect time to start planning your Jingle Bell Run or Walk goal -

Do you want to walk a mile in 15 or 30 minutes? 
Do you want to run the 5k (3.1miles) in 26 minutes or do you just want to finish the race? 
Do you want to raise 100 dollars or 1,000 dollars for Arthritis research and support? 
No goal is too small or too big for that matter. 

Link to more about this year’s Jingle Bell Run in Roanoke.

Consult your doctor before starting a new fitness plan.

Link to information about how to train for a 5k from Runner’s World.

Link to information about starting a walking program from the Arthritis Foundation.

Link to more information about Arthritis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.