Run or Walk Challenge Arthritis 5k at Como Lake, St Paul, Saturday, August 23

You’re invited to run, walk or volunteer at Charities Challenge’s 10^th Annual Challenge Arthritis 5k Event at Como Lake, St Paul, Saturday, August 23, starting at 8 AM.

For more information including online registration option go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_arthritis_5k_.html Register today!

The professionally timed 5k on a lakeside USATF certified course and the simultaneous 1.5 Mile Family & Friends Fun Walk will start at 8 AM. The Kids Challenge Fun Run will start about 9:15 AM after the 5k event is completed. The events will start/finish near the lovely lakeside pavilion.

Pre-registration is $29 through Sunday, Aug 17, $33 Aug 18-20; race-day registration is $40; reduced rates for the Kids Challenge Fun Run includes commemorative shirt.

We'll party lakeside, celebrating the Power of RxExercise to improve the lives of family & friends living well beyond a variety of arthritis challenges. Registration includes:

A) “Celebrating Strong Steps with Arthritis” party atmosphere

B) Commemorative colorful Challenge Arthritis 5k shirt

C) Race results according to complete USATF divisions

D) Compete for Challenge Arthritis 5k records

E) Motivational Challenge Arthritis theme music

F) Enthusiastic CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers. NOTE: Please join our Rewarding CCREW volunteers whenever you may not be racing. RSVP by e-mail with GaryWestlund@aol.com or phone 612-245-9160 to join our happy CCREW.

G) Complimentary photography and unique post-race online “Miles of Smiles” slideshow
H) Pro-videography and online show
I) Healthful, tasty refreshments
J) Free and convenient parking & indoor restrooms

Because of their commitment to their own RxExercise regimen many are living well beyond their arthritis challenges. These Arthritis-Challenged Honored Athletes will inspire each of us to maintain our own stronger hearts and minds with our own RxExercise.

Please refer to CC and the Challenge Arthritis Event anyone you know that we may celebrate as they continue their successful, active living beyond their arthritis challenges.

Come meet and cheer each of our Arthritis-Challenged Honored Athletes, and everyone who is racing to fill their exercise prescription. Brilliant!

Run or Walk Challenge Cancer 5k @ Como Lake, St Paul, Saturday, July 26

You're invited to run, walk or volunteer at Charities Challenge’s very special 10^th Annual Challenge Cancer 5k event at Como Lake, St Paul, Saturday, July 26, starting at 8 AM. For more information including online registration option go to www.charitieschallenge.org Register today!

The timed 5k on a lakeside USATF certified course and the simultaneous 1.5 Mile Family & Friends Fun Walk will start at 8 AM. The Kids Challenge 1/2 & 1/4 Mile Fun Run will start about 9:15 AM.

The events will start/finish near the lovely lakeside pavilion. Pre-registration is $29 'til Sunday, July 20; $33 July 21-23; race-day registration is $40. Online pre-registration closes at Midnight, Wednesday, July 23.

We'll party lakeside next Saturday morning, celebrating the Power of RxExercise to improve the lives of family & friends living well beyond a variety of challenging cancers. Registration includes:

A) “Celebrating Active Cancer Survivors” energized atmosphere

B) Commemorative “Celebrating Active Cancer Survivors” shirt

C) 5k race results according to complete USATF divisions

D) Motivational Challenge Cancer theme music & announcer

E) Enthusiastic CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers. NOTE: Whenever you may not be racing, please join our Rewarding CCREW volunteers. RSVP with me by e-mail or phone to join our happy CCREW.

F) Photography and unique post-race online “Miles of Smiles” slideshow + pro-videography

G) Healthful, tasty refreshments

H) Convenient, free parking & indoor restrooms

I) Stay after races at Como Lake to continue your own family/friends lakeside picnic, or dine in at lakeside Black Bear Crossings Café.

Because of their commitment to their RxExercise, before and after their cancer challenges, many have better survived and are continuing to make happier, stronger comebacks to a better quality of life. These Challenged Honored Athletes will inspire each of us to maintain our own RxExercise. We’ll especially be celebrating, and learning from, the improved quality of life of several “Cancer-Challenged Honored Athletes” who are living well beyond cancer challenges because of their RxExercise.

Please refer to CC and the Challenge Cancer Event anyone you know whom we may celebrate as they continue their comeback from cancer challenges.

Learn more about the Power of RxExercise relative to cancer challenges from the “Cancer News &  RxExercise” article at the CC web site http://www.charitieschallenge.org/CC_Challenge_Cancer_-__RxEx.pdf

Only about 20% of cancer patients are enjoying the special benefits of exercise. Most non-exercisers report a lack of exercise leadership programs and opportunities designed for cancer patients/survivors. So, you’re helping cancer patients and survivors today and every day by supporting Charities Challenge ongoing RxExercise Programs and Events like Saturday’s Challenge Cancer 5k where we celebrate active cancer survivors who are “More Than Survivors”.

Kids & Outdoor Play and Exercise

What were your and your childhood friends’ experiences with outdoor exercise and playful exploration?

Would I have had the daily happy, healthful outdoor adventures and exercise if my parents had been arrested for allowing me to play at the local NE Minneapolis Windom Park without adult supervision? Nope.

And, then I would not have enjoyed the lifetime health benefits, benefits physical, psychological, social, that came with being so physically active with all those other kids.

(Here’s a story today about being arrested for allowing one’s age nine child to play in the park without adult supervision http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/07/mother_jailed_for_letting_her_daughter_play_unsupervised_in_a_park.html )

My memories are filled with walking, hiking and running, both alone and with many other children, far and wide throughout my neighborhood. Even when visiting various rural settings with my folks, I'd find new environs to explore.

I remember sandlot pick-up baseball, hiking through undeveloped urban forests’ trails to collect rocks and insects, running through fields after butterflies with my home-made net, even after sunset flashlight tag games during moonless nights.

From the time I was age five and walking to and from my neighborhood school with or without classmates, I was quite safe.  I recall a general awareness of rarely being altogether unattended either by other kids or adults who were walking, working or even driving nearby. I was quite safe, as were all those hundreds of kids with whom I played through my early years.

Sadly, something has changed in America since the 1950s that has resulted in so many kids not being nearly as naturally, happily and healthfully active out-of-doors as they once were.

What are we to think of the simultaneous message that kids ought to be more physically active, safe as ever in the out-of-doors while playing in their neighborhoods and parks, but they must always be attended by their parents or a guardian?

Wouldn’t it be a grand world where every child has healthy-fit, able-bodied, an always-ready-to-go outside-to-play parents?

 But that world will never be. I didn’t have that ready-to-go-play-outside partner in either of my parents while growing up. Did you?

Today I actively support the YMCA and love seeing all the well-supervised kids.

But, there will never be enough YMCAs and other similarly well placed and organized kids’ play programs with adult supervision.

Meantime…Best wishes, especially to all the kids.

Run, Walk or Volunteer - Free to Run 4 Miles @ Lake Phalen, St Paul, Friday, July 4th

You’re invited to run, walk or volunteer at the Charities Challenge “Free to Run 4 Miles on the 4^th of July – Actively Celebrating Liberty” experience around beautiful Lake Phalen in St Paul, MN, next Friday. Race start time is 8 AM.

Go to http://charitieschallenge.org/html/free_to_run__4_miles.html for more inspiring “Free to Run 4 Miles – Celebrating Liberty” event information, online registration option, and printable promotional fliers with mail-in registration forms.

This CC Holiday Run event is the Runners Club of America (RRCA) MN  State 4 Mile Championship for the 5^th year in a row.

Every participant and volunteer will enjoy receiving:
1. A classy, commemorative “Celebrating Liberty” shirt
2. A pocket-size Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution (The only known 4^th of July road race in America giving away these USA founding documents.)
3. Refreshments and more
4. 4^th of July holiday motivational music and announcer
5. Free photographic record with fabulous post-event online slideshow displaying “Miles of Smiles"

Race results and records by CC’s official timing company Wayzata Results will be presented onsite by about 10 AM. Race results will also be posted online soon after the race.

8 Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) 2014 MN State 4 Miles Championship medals will go to men and women in four divisions:

Open Division winners (under age 40)

Masters winners (ages 40-49)

Grand Masters winners (ages 50-59)

Senior Masters winners (60 and up)

The event theme, “Celebrating Liberty”, emphasizes the freeing values to each of us “Exercising Freedom” as we enjoy the Power of Exercise as a powerful prescription (RxExercise) to improve lives. RxExercise is proven, irreplaceable “medicine” in improving the quality of lives, especially lives challenged by a variety of chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, depression, diabetes, and heart disease.

Imagine: You can help improve the lives of so many health-challenged people today by inviting them to join you in "Exercising Freedom" and live well beyond life's challenges. Share the RxExercise Challenge!

Run or Walk Challenge Diabetes 5k Event at Como Lake, St Paul, Saturday, June 28

You’re invited to run, walk and/or volunteer at Charities Challenge’s 9^th Annual Challenge Diabetes 5k Event at Como Lake, St Paul, next  Saturday, June 28, starting at 8 AM. For more information, online pre-registration go to http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_diabetes.html

The weather forecast is for Miles o’ Smiles.

Pre-registration $29 goes up to $33 after midnight CDT Sunday, June 22, and closes on Wednesday, June 25 at Midnight CDT.

Race day ($40) registration opens from 6:45-7:45 AM near Como Lake’s lakeside historic white pavilion. Directions and map are also available via our CC web site. There's convenient free parking around the lakeside pavilion area.

Challenge Diabetes 5k is a special day to celebrate all of us who are “Taking Strong Steps to Defeat Diabetes”. We'll all party in the Park next Saturday morning!

We'll also enjoy:

1. Pro-timing for complete USATF divisions scoring by www.WayzataResults.com on USATF certified 5k course

2. Fabulous free photography, online slideshow

3. Earning a “Challenge Diabetes 5k” classy commemorative t-shirt

4. The cheerful welcome and expert support of CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers.

5. The inspiration of running and walking with truly remarkable “Challenged Honored Athletes” demonstrating The Power of RxExercise to improve lives of those challenged by diabetes.

6. Summertime motivational music and announcer’s recognition.

7. Healthful, tasty post-race treats.

8. Real-time Running & Walking RxExercise Celebrations by many of us who have used RxExercise to meet well our metabolic health challenges. We’ll be cheering lots of happy racers many of whom are no longer on diabetes meds because of their RxExercise. Brilliant!

RxExercise (Exercise as Medicine) has been determined to be twice as effective in managing Type II diabetes compared to the most powerful diabetes drug!

Yes, 90% of diabetes (NIDDM) is largely preventable and much more manageable with RxExercise!

We’ll especially be celebrating, and learning from, the improved quality of life of those Diabetes-Challenged Honored Athletes who are enjoying happier diabetes management because of their RxExercise.

Please refer to me and this special Challenge Diabetes 5k event anyone you know who is living well beyond diabetes with the help of their own exercise regimen so we may especially learn from and recognize them as Challenged Honored Athletes next Saturday.

Come next Saturday to Como Lake to race, walk, volunteer, and perhaps also offer to “Walk By My Side” with our diabetes-challenged family and friends until they can learn to “run” on their own.

Invite more family and friends to join you, too, by forwarding this e-invitation to them.

Charities Challenge Mission: To Improve Health/Fitness, Reduce Health Risks, and Enhance Disease Management via Goal-oriented RxExercise Training Programs, Engaging Events & Active Community Partnerships...

Because there is NO CURE for all the ills associated with lack of exercise…except RxExercise!

CC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization http://charitieschallenge.org/

2014 Mothers Day 5k - Celebration of Active Generations Happy Report

Read and see here some of the marvelously memorable highlights from Charities Challenge 8th Annual Mothers Day 5k at beautiful Como Lake in St Paul, MN, May 11, 2014.
http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/mothers_day_5k.html

Find at the above linked event web page:
A. Race Results
B. Creative inspiring 2 min 44 sec video
C. Photos (1190!) slideshow with theme music
D. Highlights (85) photos included in "Miles of Smiles" online show

Highlights moments and scenes from 2014 Mothers Day 5k include:

1. 700 participants made it a full house (as CC limits the size of our events to keep them safer, more enjoyable, and allow for more of us to get to know one another and each others' inspiring stories).

2. 70% of the field were moms. Way to go moms!

3. 25% of the field of runners and walkers were doing their first-ever road race. Welcome to the wonderful world of road racing!

We're all so proud of our moms, grand moms, and great grand moms, that we cheerfully support their active pursuit of better and happier heart health.

Given that heart health is the greatest risk for premature death among women, and knowing that the number one prescription for improving heart health is exercise-as-medicine (RxExercise), Charities Challenge is committed to actively supporting exercise in all moms' busy lives.

Because of their loving commitment to their families, most moms are not getting the time and encouragement to stay strong with their own RxExercise - Exercise as powerful medicine.

Join CC in actively encouraging, supporting, joining, moms in their daily exercise routines.

4. Special acknowledgement to Moms on the Run (MOTR) who were represented at this year's Mothers Day 5k by over 200 of their members including dozens of their caring coaches, led by MOTR founder Karissa Johnson.

5. Thanks to MOTR member and FOX9 anchor Kelcey Carlson who came with a news crew as well as to run the Mothers Day 5k.

Moms, and all of us who support moms' healthful regular exercise, were encouraged by the attention Kelcey and her news team brought to this very special Holiday Run event at Como Lake.

6. What a special welcome back to CC's Mothers Day 5k Forever-Honored-Active-Moms of prior years' events, who have a forever complimentary welcome back for Mothers Day 5ks, including CC's Coach Jeanne DeMartino (generously volunteering as usual) and Olympian Carrie Tollefson and her strong family demonstrating how to share the RxExercise challenge.

7. We saw a proposal for marriage at the finish line by a handsome young man, Shane Schlepp (sp?) to Michelle Bruley, who had just finished running her race. She accepted! What a lovely moment captured in many photos including CC's slideshow.

8. We cheered mom Jill and age 14 son Eric Olson, who she accompanied through the 5k as he is blind, blind as a consequence of nearly dying from his first challenge: cystic fibrosis. "The Power of Love" is so evident in moms' active care for their children, especially when their children are especially challenged. Well done to Jill and courageous Eric!

9. Jason and Samantha Denen celebrated their first wedding anniversary by encouraging each others' RxExercise and joining hands as they crossed the finish line.

10. We were greatly impressed to see a family of four generations of ladies who exemplified the Mothers Day 5k theme: "Celebration of Active Generations".

11. And the kids' 1/4 and 1/2 mile fun run was just that: FUN!

12. Let's all remember that it's moms (and dads), by their happy exercise example and leadership, who are the greatest determinant of whether kids grow up to be happy exercisers throughout life, in order for them to better enjoy life with happier-health-fitness. Go Kids!

How very many more special stories I, and you, could tell here about our experiences at this year's Mothers Day 5k at Como Lake!

Please use the comment section below to add your special memories and stories of active-happy moms and their RxExercise successful leadership to their families.

Go Moms and all who actively and cheerfully support their heart-healthy RxExercise!

Easter Sunday - Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k - Run, Walk or Volunteer @ Como Lake, St Paul, MN, Sunday April 20

You’re invited to the 7^th Annual “Easter Sunday - Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k” experience at Como Lake, Sunday, April 20, 9 AM start.

For more inspiring “Easter Sunday – Rise ‘n’ Shine 5k” Event information & registration options 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 added 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 by Wayzata Results.

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

5. Professional videography and online show.

6. Healthful tasty treats.

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

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

9. Motivating memories shared with family/friends of how you improved your own and others’ happiness, health & wellness by going the distance together on Easter Sunday morning.

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 ‘round 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 sharing with one another our own regular RxExercise, while continuing to serve others’ health and wellness by our active support of Charities Challenge RxExercise Mission, Programs, Events and Active Partnerships.