Invitation to 8th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k at Como Lake, St Paul, MN - Sunday, April 21

The 8th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k Event, next Sunday, April 21, at Como Lake, St Paul, MN, 8:30 AM start, is the 2nd of 8 Life Challenge 5ks at Como Lake this year, and serves as the 2013 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Minnesota 5k State Championship!

For more information including online registration opportunity go to http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_obesity_5k.html

Pre-register by this Sunday, April 14, before the entry fee goes up.

If you want year-long motivation and a great discount on the entire 8x5k Life Challenge Series running April - September, you can find that special offer at the above linked page, too.

Six RRCA MN State 5k Championship awards will go to men and women in four divisions:

Open Division Winners (under age 40)

Masters Winners (ages 40-49)

Grand Masters (ages 50-59)

Senior Grand Masters (ages 60-and up)

These division winners will be proud to display these awards at home or in the office.

You'll also enjoy:

1. 1. Chip timing and complete USATF divisions for scoring by www.WayzataResults.com and USATF certified course
2. 2. Fabulous free photography, online slideshow & video show
3. 3. All new optional-to-order personalized printed glossy “Memory Book” of the 8^th Annual Challenge Obesity 5k which can also be viewed and shown to friends online
4. 4. Earning a one-of-a-kind-in-America road race “Challenge Obesity 5k” classy commemorative t-shirt.
5. 5. The cheerful welcome and expert support of CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers.
6. 6. The inspiration of running and walking with truly remarkable “Challenged Honored Athletes” demonstrating The Power of RxExercise to improve lives.
7. 7. Springtime motivational music and announcer’s recognition.
8. 8. Fabulous photos slideshow for you to review online at CC’s Photos Slideshow page, and then even freely copy your photos to your Facebook.
9. 9. Recognition and reporting of all USATF youth, open and masters age groups divisions.
10. 10. Healthful post-race treats and a variety of beverages.
11. 11. Real-time Running & Walking RxExercise Celebrations by many of us who have used RxExercise to meet well our overweight and obesity health challenges. We’ll be cheering lots of happy racers each of whom has lost 20 to over 200lbs!
12. 12. Motivating memories to last another year until next year’s edition of this One-of-a-Kind Challenge Obesity road race event.

A major theme of the Challenge Obesity 5k Event at Como Lake is, ”I don’t have to be thin to be happy, healthy and fit”.

There will be recognition of all of us who want to be recognized for our healthful weight management. We will together be "Celebrating Effective RxExercise".

Everyone will go home inspired by the increasing numbers of athletes who come to celebrate how their RxExercise is helping them achieve and maintain remarkable weight management goals. Challenge Obesity includes our own “Big Losers” among all the big winners of regular RxExercise.

Find special inspiration from these impressively meaningful Event Statistics based on those pre-registered to date:

1. A. 30% will be enjoying their first-ever road race
2. B. 75% are women
3. C. 25% are walkers
4. D. 20% have chosen to compete in the optional Athena/Clydesdale weight-classes division
5. E. 45% have indicated having lost from 20 to >200 pounds
6. F. 5 individuals have lost over 20 lbs; 8 over 50 lbs; 13 over 100 lbs; and 2 individuals have lost over 200lbs !

While you’re visiting the CC web site, be sure to read the super news about RxExercise, an inspiring article “Obesity Challenges & the Power of Rx Exercise” http://charitieschallenge.org/html/rx_exercise_training_articles.html

Learn super-surprising things about the Power of RxExercise and why ”You don’t have to be thin to be happy, healthy and fit”.

As always, CC welcomes new volunteers to join our CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) where you can delight in both the meaningful intrinsic rewards of helping support so many others' life changing RxExercise, and earn a variety of valuable extrinsic CC Rewards. CCREW volunteers will start set up at Como Lake at 6:30 AM. Please RSVP if you, too, would like to join our CCREW!

Invitation to 2nd Annual Challenge Happiness 5k - The Only Happiness Road Race in America - Sunday, April 14, Como Lake, St Paul, MN

Online Entry, 5k Event Records/Photos & more very happy and helpful info here http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_happiness_5k.html Pre-register now!

The Only Happiness Road Race in the USA! Pre-registration closes Midnight CDT Friday, April 12


9 AM Start - Race day registration & check-in opens at 8 AM.

Learn more about how "Happiness is a Serious Challenge" and how to "Train & Race for Happiness" at the event page, for yourself and your family & friends.

Professionally timed/scored 5k on USATF certified course around beautiful, blooming Como Lake

Recognition: Complete 5k results by USATF Youth, Open, Masters (5-year age groups > age 40-80+), and Athena-Clydesdale weight class divisions.

Added values: Happy, colorful commemorative race shirt, CC hospitality, announcer, photos slideshow, motivational music & healthful tasty treats for all event participants.

This is the 1st in CC’s 2013 Life Challenge Series of 8 x 5k Events highlighting RxExercise relative to life health challenges.

Learn more about the entire 8 x 5k Life Challenge Series and more about “RxExercise and Happiness” at www.CharitiesChallenge.org or call 612-245-9160.

Defeat Depression & Anger with RxExercise. RxExercise is effective in improving mild-to-moderate depression challenges, and even changing anger into joy!

Consult a physician for medical advice regarding depression, including when you choose to add/increase exercise, and especially if you choose to eliminate exercise from your life.

Run, Walk or Volunteer - Easter Sunday - Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k @ Como Lake, March 31

You’re invited to the 6^th Annual “Easter Sunday - Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k” experience at Como Lake, Sunday, March 31, 9 AM start.

For more registration options about The Only Easter Sunday road race in Minnesota go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/easter_sunday_rise_-n_shine_5k.html

The Easter Sunday 5k theme is: “Actively Celebrating Life”.

Enjoy all the following values:

1. Colorful commemorative Easter Sunday - Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k shirt.

2. Happy holiday music & announcer, to give you a motivating shout-out.

3. Professional timing/scoring/record keeping

4. Fabulous online photos slideshow with free digital photos for you & Facebook. (Join Charities Challenge at Facebook, too!)

5. Healthful tasty treats.

6. CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers serving you at Como Lake on Easter morning where we’ll all be “Actively Celebrating Life”.

7. “Miles o’ Smiles” & Easter-time holiday costumes encouraged!

Activity is evidence of life, and more activity is evidence of more life! Movement, regular vigorous movement, is a sure sign of life. Be More Alive - Be More Active! Rise ‘n’ Shine with Families & Friends Walking ‘n’ Running around beautiful Como Lake on Easter morning!

Easter Sunday will be a special CC Holiday Run occasion for hundreds of us sharing in the Power of RxExercise improving the quality of our lives every day, and demonstrating how our relationships with family and friends are happily improved through the irreplaceable happy-health benefits of walking and/or running together with an ever-growing number of healthy-happy active friends.

Participation in the Easter Sunday 5k continues to serve and celebrate the lives of each of us who benefit from our own regular RxExercise, while continuing to serve others by our active support of Charities Challenge RxExercise Mission, Programs, Events and Active Partnerships.

St Patrick's Irish Traditions 5k @ Como Lake, St Paul, MN - Pre-Register Now!

You’re invited to run or walk the 5^th Annual St Patrick’s Irish Traditions 5k experience next Sunday, March 17, at Como Lake in St Paul, MN; start time 9 AM.

Pre-register by this Sunday, March 10 for the lowest entry fee http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/st__pats_5k.html

Over 300 are already pre-registered for the 700 limited pre-registration entries. PRE_REGISTER SOON!

The St Patrick Irish Traditions 5k theme is “Celebrating Active Friendship-Love-Loyalty” the 3 traditions of the Irish Claddagh ring.

Enjoy all the following values for pre-registration fee of $28/$33 after March 10/pre-registration closes on Thursday, March 14. Race day registration is $40.

1. Colorful, classy commemorative St Patrick’s Irish Traditions 5k shirt.

2. Happy Irish holiday music & announcer.

3. Professional chip timing/scoring by www.WayzataResults.com

4. Fabulous online photos slideshow with free digital photos for (Join Charities Challenge at Facebook, too!)

5. Tasty treats and beverages.

6. Irish Traditions welcoming hospitality by CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers (join our rewarding CCREW anytime).

7. Be Lucky! Join CC’s RxExercise Ambassador Team & Travel, CC Team-expenses-paid, to Dublin, Ireland in August to run or walk the 1st Annual Rock 'n' Roll Dublin Half Marathon http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/train-n-_travel.html

Irish style holiday colors and costumes encouraged! And, personally motivating messages on a wearable sign is also encouraged. Imagine running or walking with a friend who’s wearing a sign displaying a personally inspiring message, “Active Loyal/Loving/Friend to ______________________”, and your name is there for all to see.

Imagine how a special friend will be encouraged to take better care of their happiness & health with their own RxExercise when they see you displaying your motivational sign that keeps you running and staying strong. Yes! Active Friendship-Love-Loyalty motivates motion as well as e-motion!

So show your Active Friendship-Love-Loyalty as you share your running & walking together at the St Pat’s Irish Traditions 5k.

More CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers are always welcome to join us in delivering another special Holiday Run Event. RSVP with CC Coach Gary Westlund at GaryWestlund@aol.com or call 612-245-9160 if you want to join our Rewarding CCREW. You’ll also earn super CCREWARDs for volunteering, including credits toward travel with an RxExercise Ambassador Team to Great Destinations!

Run or Walk Christmas Day - Joyful 5k & New Year's Eve - Hopeful 5k

You’re invited to run, walk and/or volunteer Charities Challenge’s last Holiday Run Events for 2012, both at Como Lake in St Paul, on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. http://www.charitieschallenge.org

Tuesday, Dec 25, is the 7^th Annual Christmas Day – Joyful 5k experience at Como Lake in St Paul, MN. Start time 10 AM. This continues to be “The Biggest Christmas Day 5k in the USA”. http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/christmas_day_5k.html

Monday, Dec 31, is the New Year’s Eve – Hopeful 5k experience at Como Lake in St Paul, MN. Start time 3 PM. Learn more about the last Holiday Run of 2012 & post-race party here http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/new_years_eve_day_hopeful_5k.html

Throughout 2012 at CC’s RxExercise Events we celebrated the Power of RxExercise to improve the health and lives, and even the relationships of thousands, especially improving the lives of so many of us who live well beyond our health challenges due to chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, depression, diabetes, or accidental serious injuries.

Christmas Day is a day to celebrate all those “Miracle Miles” so many of us have walked and run together in 2012, and to encourage our loved ones to join us by coming alongside us on Christmas morning for a fun walk/run.

Give the gift of sharing some miles of smiles with family & friends who will be oh-so happier-healthier for their RxExercise and thereby even enjoy improved relationships in 2013.

If you're among the nearly 200 already pre-registered, Thank You! Perhaps you'll want to forward this invitation to more of your family & friends to join you, too.

Early Day-Before Check-In and in person Pre-registration option:

Check in the day before the race reduces the check-in lines on race day.

Early Check-In & Shirt and bib # pick-up is Monday, Dec 24 from 10 AM to 3 PM at Black Bear Crossings Cafe inside the lakeside pavilion on Como Lake.

Christmas Day – Joyful 5k Race Day Check-in for pre-registered, and race day registration, opens at 9 AM at the beautiful lakeside pavilion on Como Lake. Enjoy:

1. 1. Long-sleeve commemorative shirt
2. 2. Happy holiday motivating music and announcer
3. 3. Healthful tasty treats and a variety of hot beverages
4. 4. Unique free-to-copy fabulous photos and online slideshow
5. 5. Miles of Smiles shared by families & friends Holiday Run

For more inspiring “Christmas Day – Joyful 5k” registration  information, press release, online photos slideshows of past events, and even a great “History of Christmas”, go to http://charitieschallenge.org/html/christmas_day_5k.html

Any tax-deductible contributions added to your entry fee or sent separately will continue serving others’ RxExercise needs by supporting Charities Challenge year ‘round RxExercise Mission, Programs, Partnerships, Services and Events. http://www.crowdrise.com/CharitiesChallenge2012

The Christmas Holiday Run Event has become for many of us a particularly meaningful, and memorable Christmas Day’s Families & Friends Tradition of RxExercise, because “Brighter, Lighter Days & Miles of Smiles Come with Sharing Our RxExercise Every Day”.

We CC Race Event Worker (CCREW) volunteers look forward to seeing you at Como Lake on Christmas morning where together we’ll enjoy an active “Miracles Miles” morning.

More CCREW are always welcome to join us in delivering another Holiday Event. RSVP if you want to join our rewarding experience as a CCREW volunteer. What a great active gift of volunteering you’ll be giving to so many others as a CCREW member!

Come In From the Cold - Challenge Courage Indoor Track Races

Charities Challenge’s Wintertime Indoor Track Series Continues this Sunday morning, December 2 @ Bethel University in Arden Hills with the 7^th Annual Challenge Courage Indoor Track Races.

For more information and registration options go to http://charitieschallenge.org/

Doors open at 8 AM, first event starts at 9 AM.




Fully Automated Timing (F.A.T.) and scoring by Josh Gerber of WayzataResults.com will allow for immediate race results.

Come En-Courage one another’s athleticism, training and racing, an irreplaceable gift to athletes of all ages and abilities.

Sunday’s forecast is for cold temps and icy outdoor paths of a Minnesota December, making Sunday’s 2nd of 5 Indoor Track Challenge Events at Bethel U oh-so welcoming-warm.

There will be races of a variety of distance, mid-distance and sprints events, 5000m, 60m, Mile, 200m, 800m, a separate judge Mile race walk, finishing with a 400m. Enter each or all events for one entry fee, and a special reduced rate for students under age 19.

There will be challenging athletic competitions and fast-fun for athletes of all ages and athletic abilities.

Perhaps you can set a personal racing record at this year’s Challenge Courage races, and even take a shot at setting an All-Time record for the Challenge Courage Event or even a record for the entire Indoor Challenge Events Series All-Time. See last year’s and the standing All-time racing records for a little added motivation to your athletic training http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_courage.html

Reaching for worthy goals for which one chooses to train diligently takes courage (i.e. “heart”). Go for a record of your own!

Each CC Challenge Event highlights the power of an RxExercise prescription in improving the quality of life for many of us challenged with one of a variety of health challenges, challenges like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, depression, heart disease and more. Such health challenges call for special courage.

CC’s Challenge Courage Races Event theme is “Celebrating Strength & Courage”.

Train & Race for “Courage & Strength to Better Meet Life’s Challenges”! We can each train and race to be stronger and therefore better prepared for life’s challenges.

Come en-Courage and cheer on one another in our training and racing Sunday morning at Bethel U. This kind of En-Couragement is truly an enlivening, irreplaceable gift and a wonderful way to actively lift one another’s spirits during the Holiday Season!

And, if you can’t make the indoor races this Sunday or the Challenge Isolation Indoor Track Races on Dec 16 at Bethel U, please consider joining us and hundreds of other runners and walkers from across America for “The Biggest Christmas Day 5k in the USA” at Como Lake on Tuesday, Dec 25. Learn more about this unique-in-America Christmas Day – Joyful 5k at http://charitieschallenge.org/html/christmas_day_5k.html

More CC Race Event Workers always welcome, too, as Josh needs about six volunteers to help him/us. Please RSVP with me if you want to join our CCREW this Sunday, or any other time, and learn about our CCREW Rewards Program. Volunteering brings benefits, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, to all CC Race Events Workers.

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/