Christmas Day - Joyful 5k - Biggest Christmas Day 5k in the USA

Thank you for being a part of Charities Challenge's 6^th Annual Christmas Day - Joyful 5k at Como Lake in St Paul, and making it “The Biggest Christmas Day 5k in the USA”. http://charitieschallenge.org/html/christmas_day_5k.html

You may enjoy remembering some of the morning's special experiences as you view the online edited photos slideshow while hearing again a 2011 Christmas Day 5k holiday theme songs http://www.charitieschallenge.org/cceventphotos/2011%20Holiday%20Run%20Series/10/med/CCChristmas2011_White_.htm

Click on “Slideshow” at the top of the page and be sure to also turn up your sound to enjoy joyful theme songs with the show.

As the slideshow is set for 1 second per image, you can see over 700 images in about 7 minutes. When have more time for viewing, you may slow the show by changing to from 1 second to 2 or 3 for the “duration”.

You’re also welcome to open the photos “Index” and freely copy from the photos index those images you may want save in your computer, and then send photos to family/friends via e-mail or paste to your Facebook page. While you’re at Facebook you’re welcome to join other friends of CC http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=41310607820 where we can all keep up with RxExercise News and CC Events and Programs. You’re also welcome to add me, Gary Westlund, to your Facebook friends.

Please send back to me any special e-notes stories about how walking and running on Christmas Day may have especially brightened-lightened your day and/or someone with whom you participated.

While editing the photos I was particularly cheered by the images I saw of families and friends joyfully sharing their athletic experiences ‘round Como Lake on a Christmas morning, many coming from faraway places like Arizona, California, Florida, and several foreign countries. I so enjoy seeing so many active, loving family-friends sharing happy-healthy walking/running activity on a special holiday.

So, check out the photos slideshow where you’ll see more “Miles of Smiles” evidencing the Power of RxExercise to cheer each of us even during these darkest days of the year, and even improve our relationships with loved ones who will walk and run by our sides.

Thanks to our professional announcer, Gaylen Morse of Morsound. And, thanks again and again to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers who helped deliver the Christmas Day – Joyful 5k!

You’re welcome to join our CCREW for any of our 28 Annual CC Events in 2012 http://charitieschallenge.org/html/events.html

CCREW volunteers earn a variety of CCREWARDS for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences. http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/charities_challenge_race_event_workers_-ccrew-_program.html Go CCREW!

And, thanks to many of you who added a tax-deductible donation with your registration fee that will be used to continue CC’s RxExercise Training Programs, Educational & Training Services, complimentary CC Events’ entries, and new running shoes and gear for those in need. Lives are saved and improved every day with RxExercise.

If you choose to make a year end tax-deductible contribution to CC go to http://charitieschallenge.org/html/make_a_donation.html

Donations will be helping others to keep going, many of us to “keep going well beyond…” arthritis, cancer, diabetes, depression, heart disease, brain injuries and more, with the irreplaceable benefits of exercise, RxExercise.

Once again, thank you for actively supporting CC’s RxExercise Mission/Programs/Events, and for running or walking even on Christmas Day.

Next, please join us this Sunday on New Year’s Day for the 3^rd Annual New Year’s Day - Hopeful 5k back at Como Lake http://charitieschallenge.org/html/new_years_day_hopeful_5k.html

And, by registering this week, through the deadline of this Friday, Dec 30, for $180 you’re welcome to take advantage of the special $120+ savings on CC’s unique-in-America 2012 Holiday Run Series of 12 Holiday Run Events, running from this Sunday’s New Year’s Day – Hopeful 5k through all the beautiful Minnesota seasons of running to the next Christmas Day – Joyful 5k a year away. What a great way to be “Running through the Holidays” all year long! http://charitieschallenge.org/html/holiday_events.html

Invite family/friends to join you in “Running through the 2012 Holiday” because “these are the days we’ll remember” all the more warmly because we ran and walked together.

And/or get on track at the 7^th Annual New Year’s Challenge Resolutions Indoor Track Event at Bethel U http://charitieschallenge.org/html/new_year_resolutions_challenge.html offering a variety of races for athletes of all abilities and all ages, starting at 9 AM, Sunday, Jan 8. What fun starting out the New Year so actively and happily!

Merry Christmastime and an active Happy New Year!