2012 ThanksGiving Day - GivingThanks 5k Story & Photos

Thanks to everyone who played an active part in Charities Challenge's 7^th Annual ThanksGiving Day - GivingThanks 5k - Attitude of Gratitude Celebration, yesterday at Como Lake in St Paul. Find the slideshow with theme music here http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/thanksgiving_day_5k.html

Enjoy remembering some of the morning's special experiences as you view the online photos slideshow while hearing again some of the 2012 ThanksGiving Day 5k theme songs. Be sure to turn up your computer sound before clicking on "Slideshow".

The 1151 photos at 1 second per image will take about 20 minutes to view. But, I hope you find the music inspiring along with the images of so many sharing their walk/run with loved ones.

You’re welcome to freely copy any photos from the gallery “index”, add the photos to your digital photo files, and even send the photo(s) to family and friends via e-mail. And, like so many others, post your favorite photo(s) to your Facebook page.

I learned during early check-in from one regular runner of this Holiday Run that she took from last year’s TD5k photos select images and created a printed collage for family/friends with whom she ran. What a great idea for a Christmastime gift after the ThanksGiving Day 5k! You’re welcome to add your commemorative bib or the image of that colorful collector bib # to any photos collage you may create. Cool. And, I’d love to see any such collages you may create. So, post those photos collage to Charities Challenge Facebook group page or send them to my e-address.

When you view the photos slideshow you’ll see “Miles of Smiles” evidencing the Power of RxExercise (exercise as medicine) to cheer each of us during even these darkening days of fall into winter, and how sharing a run/walk even improves our relationships with loved ones who walk and run by our sides.

Thanks to about 20 CC Race Event Worker (CCREW) volunteers who helped produce this Holiday Run Event. Others are welcome to join our happy CCREW for any of our 26 Annual CC Events. CC volunteers can earn a variety of valuable CCREW Rewards for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences. Some CCREW also are earning fundraising credits to help cover CC’s cost to send them as RxExercise Ambassadors to Great Destination Events, like the Maui Oceanfront Marathon in January, Ireland’s Dublin Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in August, and Marine Corps Marathon & 10K in October. Go CCREW! And…Go RxExercise Ambassadors!

Thanks also to each of you who brought non-perishable food items, and a few who added cash donations, that CC delivered immediately following the event to Roseville’s Keystone Community Services. Thanks to CCREW member, Phil Face, for making that delivery.

By walking, running and/or volunteering about 900 others at the ThanksGiving Day – GivingThanks 5k, you made an immediate difference in your own healthier-happier life, as well as so many others’ lives, by “Sharing the RxExercise Challenge” with families & friends. Walk and run with a year ‘round “Attitude of Gratitude”, and be ready to come back next year happier-healthier, faster and fitter than ever.

When measured against the big world of road racing events, many of which seek to grow in numbers into sometimes very big crowds, CC Events are intended to be boutique events with an upper limit of participation that keeps our events safe, more pleasant for everyone, allowing for more personally satisfying experiences shared by family & friends many of whom are recognized by name by both fellow athletes and our CC Race Event Worker (CCREW) volunteers.

Nonetheless, the 2012 ThanksGiving Day 5k saw a CC record number of participants of 900+ walkers & runners, plus guests and volunteers. That's filling our Como Lake "house" on Thanksgiving Day. Well done to all!

Before the New Year, you’re oh-so welcome to come back to Como Lake for the 7^th Annual Christmas Day – Joyful 5k http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/christmas_day_5k.html

And, to get through this winter’s icy challenges there’s another opportunity to improve your racing speed by joining in on CC’s Indoor Track Challenge Series continuing next Sunday at Bethel University’s indoor track facility. Join us there to “stay on track” with your training and racing for faster “funner” times http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/indoor_track_challenge_series.html

You’re also invited to keep up with Charities Challenge RxExercise News, Events and inspiring stories by adding Charities Challenge to your Facebook “Friends” https://www.facebook.com/groups/41310607820/