Challenge Aging 5k Race Results, Online Slideshow & Story

Thanks to all who were an active, supportive part of Charities Challenge's 5^th Annual Challenge Aging 5k where we enjoyed “Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging” at Como Lake.

This was the last of CC’s perennial 7 Life Challenge 5k Events Series for 2011 where we “Take the RxExercise Challenge” together with families and friends to better meet life’s challenges, even challenges like advancing aging.

Race results & photos slideshow with music is available now via the Challenge Aging 5k page http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_aging.html

Congratulations to so many winners, winners in so many ways, in many age group divisions!

Imagine! Of a field ranging in ages 23 to 86, nearly 20% of the field were athletes over age 60.

Because our pro-timer, Josh Gerber of www.WayzataResults.com offered "age-graded" race results in addition to traditional race results, we were able to recognize any racers, regardless of age, as "Real Bread Winners" because of their high "age graded" performances.

Check out those age-graded race results and

special stories, like a few of the following: Larry Cerling, M61, had the highest age graded score, a "National Level" performance.

Brenda Becker, F72, running her first-ever road race and on two Total Hips Replacement, had the 3rd highest age-graded score among all the women.

Brenda is now the fastest woman in Minnesota after 2xTHA!

And, between volunteering in support of everyone else before and after her own 5k walk, Mary Pat Flynn, F86, turned in a 5k time equal to her last four Challenge Aging 5ks. Mary Pat is not slowing down even at age 86!

Enjoy remembering some of the morning's special experiences as you view the online photos slideshow while hearing again 2011 Challenge Aging 5k theme songs. Notice in the slideshow “Miles of Smiles” because RxExercise does improve mental health especially in the face of life’s major challenges like superannuation (yes, it’s a real word and too often a real challenge.)

After you open the Challenge Aging 5k in the upper right corner of the Life Challenge 5ks gallery, be sure to turn up your sound as you click on “Slideshow” at the top of the page.

The online musical slideshow of 312 images can be completed in about 5 minutes if you want to enjoy all the photos. At the top of the slideshow page you may change the “Duration” of each slide to 1 second to go faster or 3 seconds to slow down the slideshow.

You’re also welcome to go to the slideshow “index” in order to find any personally special photos that you can copy to your Facebook page, thereby sharing your joy of RxExercise with others whom you may want to encourage toward happy RxExercise. Perhaps with your encouragement you may even bring family/friends with you to our big CC Holiday Run 5k events from this fall through to next spring http://charitieschallenge.org/html/holiday_events.html

Add Charities Challenge to your Facebook friends, too, and get more CC Events & RxExercise News via Charities Challenge at Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41310607820&ref=mf

Please send back any special e-note stories about how walking/running/volunteering at the Challenge Aging 5k may have especially brightened-lightened your day and/or someone you love.

Thanks again to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers who helped deliver a happy Challenge Aging 5k:

Jeanne DeMartino, Meredith Soul, Ken Wendling, Kent Spellman, Kim Fealy, Mary Pat Flynn, Amy Kohout, and lots of fun-fit friends from Minnehaha Marathoners Run Club.

Thanks again to pro-announcer extraordinaire and special friend to Charities Challenge, Gaylen Morse, of Morsound http://www.morsound.net/ for all his kind and motivating shout-outs to all our participants!

And, Sponsor-Thanks to Tom & Sally of Great Harvest Bread Co. of Minneapolis http://www.greatharvestmn.com/minneapolis/minneapolis.html for their generous support to CC's "Real Bread Winners" as well as race rolls for post-race refueling.

All CC Events participants are welcome to join our happy CCREW for any of our 27 Annual CC Events. Just let me know. You’ll also earn a variety of CCREW Rewards, like complimentary race entries and more, for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences. Go CCREW!

Please join us for the next CC Event…The 3^rd Annual Halloween Fearless 5k back at Como Lake on Saturday, Oct29 http://charitieschallenge.org/html/halloween_fearless_5k.html where together we’ll actively, happily “Celebrate Courage & Chase Away Fears".

Run or Walk 5th Annual Challenge Aging 5k @ Como Lake, St Paul, MN

Walk, run or actively volunteer for the 5^th Annual Challenge Aging 5k Event, this Saturday, September 24, at Como Lake, St Paul, MN, 9 AM Start.

Fabulous fall forecast for colorful autumnal Como Lake: Sunny

, 46-67 F. and “Miles of Smiles”!

For more information including online registration option go to http://charitieschallenge.org/

We'll Party in the Park on Saturday morning with amazing athletes of all ages leading the way into advancing ages!

We'll celebrate:

1. A unique “Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging” Theme.

2. The inspiration of running and walking with truly remarkable and inspiring “Well-Aged Athletes” demonstrating The Power of RxExercise to improve lives throughout all our years.

3. Unique Bib Numbers Assignment: Bib #s will be going in inverse order of pre-registered athletes’ ages. (So far, #1 will be worn by a woman age 86!)

4. Earning a one-of-a-kind-in-America road racing “Challenge Aging 5k” designer commemorative t-shirt.

5. Enjoy the cheerful welcome and expert support of CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers, healthful tasty treats.

6. Recognition by Pro-race announcer Gaylen Morse & Ageless Motivational Music.

7. Fabulous photographic record and online CC Photos slide show of your racing the event. See last year’s event photos via the CC site.

8. Awards and recognition for many race division winners.

9. Great Harvest fresh bread loaves for division "Real Bread Winners".

10. More memorable “Miles of Smiles”!

Why “Challenge Aging”?

The BAD NEWS: Because advancing age beyond age 35 is highly related to increasing adverse risks to health and happiness of “Usual Aging”.

“Usual Aging”, according to gerontologists, involves a variety of serious challenges to health and happiness and even good relationships.

“Usual Aging” is how most people age...badly and sadly.

The GOOD NEWS: Alternatively, we each can choose to actively pursue what gerontologists call “Successful Aging”.

There are a variety of personal habits that contribute to successful aging. But, one habit is paramount: Exercise.

Strength through exercise is the major variable in “Successful Aging”.

Note: “Real Aging” for physically fit & athletic individuals after age 40 is slowed to ¼ the rate of “Usual Aging” effects in sedentary individuals.

Active athletes are really younger than their chronological years and tend to be happier-healthier than sedentary individuals.

Exercise is a big part of why, for example, my own “Real Age” is 52, eight years younger than my chronological age of 60.

How would you like to be ten, or twenty, years younger than your advancing chronological age?

You’re welcome to visit CC’s Challenge Aging 5k page http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_aging.html to find links to online programs that allow you to estimate your real age, and then come Saturday to celebrate your youthfulness through your RxExercise.

Constitution Day - We the People 5k (1st Annual) Story

Thank you for being a part of Charities Challenge's 1st Annual Constitution Day – We the People 5k run/walk event at Bunker Hills Regional Park in Andover, MN, the 4^th of 5 Americana Heritage Series of Run/Walk Events presented by Charities Challenge, where we “Take the RxExercise Challenge” together with families and friends, stepstoward more actively & meaningfully celebrating our American heritage of Life-Liberty-Happiness.

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/constitution_day_.html

At the above link you’ll find race results and the photos slideshow with Americana theme music.

Enjoy remembering some of Saturday morning's special experiences as you view the online photos slideshow while hearing again Constitution Day inspiring theme songs.

The slideshow of 117 images can be completed in about 2 minutes if you want to view all the photos. At the top of the slideshow page you may change the “Duration” of each slide to 2 or 3 seconds to slow down the slideshow when you may have more time for viewing.

You’re welcome to go to the slideshow “index” in order to find any personally special photos that you can copy to your Facebook page, thereby sharing your joy of RxExercise with others whom you may want to encourage toward happy RxExercise. You’re welcome to add me and Charities Challenge to your Facebook friends to keep up with the latest RxExercise news and events announcements. https://www.facebook.com/groups/41310607820/

Please send back to me by e-mail, or call me @ 612-245-9160, with any special stories about how walking/running/volunteering at the Constitution Day 5k may have been especially meaningful for you.

Thanks to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers: Don & Meredith Soule, Ken Wendling, Phil Face, Rick Recker, Kent Spellman, Jeanne DeMartino, and Nick Peterson who all worked in support of racers and guests.

All CC Events participants are welcome to join our CCREW volunteers for any of our 28 Annual CC Events. You’ll also earn a variety of valuable CCREW Rewards for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences, including entries into other CC Events, running shoes and gear, a place at CC’s post-race CCREW parties, and even credits toward RxExercise Ambassador Team travel expenses to Great Ambassador Destination Events. Go CCREW!

Thanks again to each and every one who gathered together to actively celebrate 224th "birthday" of our America-changing and world-history-record-setting US Constitution. It's also remarkable to imagine that this was the only Constitution Day road race in America where everyone received a pocket-size edition of our Declaration of Independence & US Constitution to carry with us throughout the year.

Next year at our 2nd Annual Constitution Day 5k I hope more and more will join me in reciting those memorable words from the Preamble that begin, "We the people of the United States, in order to... secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity".

Next up the 5^th Annual Challenge Aging 5k at Como Lake this Saturday, Sept 24, 9 AM start, where together we’ll actively, happily and immediately be encouraging all of us who are “Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging". http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_aging.html

And, please return for the 5^th of 5 Annual Americana Heritage Series of Walk/Run Events presented by Charities Challenge:

Noon, Friday, 11/11/11, the 1^st Annual Veterans Day 5k – Honoring Military Service, at Como Lake. http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/veterans_day_usa_.html

Learn more about CC’s unique-in-America Americana Heritage Events Series of run/walk events here http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/americana_heritage_series.html Continue celebrating Life-Liberty-Happiness in active, meaningful ways with fun-fit families and friends.

Thanks for Never Forgetting 9/11 at America the Beautiful 5k

Thank you for being a part of Charities Challenge's 1st Annual America the Beautiful 5k – Never Forgetting 9/11 run/walk event at Como Lake in St Paul, the 3rd of 5 Americana Heritage Events Series presented by Charities Challenge, where we “Take the RxExercise Challenge” together with families and friends to more actively & meaningfully celebrate our American heritage of Life-Liberty-Happiness.

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/america_the_beautiful_5k_.html

For race results go to http://www.wayzataresults.com/event/show/21455343

And for the photos slideshow with theme music go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/cceventphotos/2011%20Americana%20Heritage%20Events%20by%20Charities%20Challenge/

Enjoy remembering some of Sunday morning's special experiences as you view the online photos slideshow while hearing again America the Beautiful 5k inspiring theme songs.

The slideshow of 566 images can be completed in about 10 minutes if you want to view all the photos. At the top of the slideshow page you may change the “Duration” of each slide to 2 or 3 seconds to slow down the slideshow when you may have more time for viewing.

You’re welcome to go to the slideshow “index” in order to find any personally special photos that you can copy to your Facebook page, thereby sharing your joy of RxExercise with others whom you may want to encourage toward happy RxExercise. You’re welcome to add me and Charities Challenge to your Facebook friends to keep up with the latest RxExercise news and events announcements. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/41310607820/

Please send back to me by e-mail, or call me @ 612-245-9160, with any special stories about how walking/running/volunteering at the America the Beautiful 5k may have especially meaningful for you.

Thanks again to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers: In addition to several who jumped into the 5k between helping as volunteers, a big “THANKS” to Jeanne DeMartino, Don & Meredith Soule, Ken Wendling, Andrew Hanselman, Lynn Schwartz, Kim Fealy, Tom Ruen, and Kris Swiantecke who all worked throughout the morning in support of 200 racers and guests. And, thanks to pro-timer/scorer Josh Gerber of WayzataResults.

Special thanks to Laura Westlund for the handsome and very well-received America the Beautiful 5k design for our shirts & banner which we will be proud to use for years to come.

And, thanks to Greg Stankey for the beautiful, moving site of the dozens of white doves released before the 5k start while we listened to the playing of Ronan Tynan's wonderful "God Bless America".

All CC Events participants are welcome to join our CCREW volunteers for any of our 28 Annual CC Events. You’ll also earn a variety of valuable CCREW Rewards for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences, including entries into other CC Events, running shoes and gear, a place at CC’s post-race CCREW parties, and even credits toward RxExercise Ambassador Team travel expenses to Great Ambassador Destination Events. Go CCREW!

Next up please join us for the 4^th of 5 Annual Americana Heritage Events Series presented by Charities Challenge presented by Charities Challenge:

9 AM this Saturday, September 17, for the 1^st Annual Constitution Day – WE THE PEOPLE 5k at beautiful Bunker Hills Regional Park in Andover http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/constitution_day_.html

As we did at Sunday's America the Beautiful 5k, we will again be distributing pocket size Declaration of Independence & the US Constitution to every participant this Saturday on the 224th Anniversary of the US Constitution. I hope you're finding yourself carrying and reading those brilliant founding documents that still inspire Life-Liberty-Happiness here and around the world. Brilliant!

Learn more about CC’s unique-in-America Americana Heritage Events Series of run/walk events here http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/americana_heritage_series.html continue celebrating Life-Liberty-Happiness in active, meaningful ways with fun-fit families and friends.

Run or Walk the America the Beautiful 5k – Never Forgetting 9/11 @ Como Lake, St Paul, MN

You’re invited to run, walk or volunteer at the America the Beautiful 5k – Never Forgetting 9/11 remembrance event at Como Lake, St Paul, MN, this Sunday, September 11, produced by Charities Challenge. Race start time is 9:11 AM.

For more inspiring event information, online registration option, free printable promotional poster, morning's schedule & more Go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/america_the_beautiful_5k_.html

Pre-registration is $25, available until 2 PM tomorrow, Friday Sept 9, via Active http://www.active.com/running/st-paul-mn/america-the-beautiful-5k-never-forgetting-911-2011

Race day $35 registration opens, along with pre-registered check-in, starting at 8 AM next to Como Lake’s historic lakeside pavilion. Free and convenient event parking is available and indoor restrooms are in the pavilion. See the CC website for maps/directions.

America the Beautiful 5k - Never Forgetting 9/11 highlights:

1. 10th Anniversary of 9/11 active remembrance of sacrifices of military & civilians in defense of life, liberty & happiness

2. Never Forgetting 9/11 while celebrating the sentiments expressed in classic song America the Beautiful (See * below)

3. Exercising liberty 'cause the strong best defend life, liberty & happiness (See ** below)

4. Added funds raised to benefit wounded vets.

5. Free photographic record with fabulous post-event online slideshow displaying “Miles of Smiles”

6. Americana motivational music & announcer

7. Race results and records by CC’s official timing company, www.WayzataResults.com

8. CC Race Event Worker CCREW volunteers’ hospitality, lively camaraderie & healthful, tasty refreshments

9. Commemorative classy shirts

10. A pocket size Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. (CC’s Americana Heritage Events are the only known races in America giving away these historic, world-changing USA founding documents.)

11. New 9/11 memories

* The inspiring words from "America the Beautiful" will be played at this 1st Annual America the Beautiful 5k - Never Forgetting 9/11:

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

This is the 3^rd of 5 Annual Americana Heritage Events produced by Charities Challenge, celebrating special inspiration from American Heritage and History of “Life-Liberty-Happiness” by maintaining all the strength necessary to continue celebrating, securing and protecting our “Blessings of Liberty” (see the preamble to the US Constitution).

** NOTE: Rudyard Kipling observed how, “Nations have passed away and left no traces…history gives the naked cause of it; one single, simple reason in all cases: They fell because their people were not fit.”