Jingle Bell Run 2012

A few weeks ago I was trying to find a run for December so that I would have a reason to keep running so that I wouldn't just be lazy and not run. I came across a Jingle Bell Run, which you can check out here. I was pretty excited about this and had pretty high hopes of being able to train and then be one of those runners, you know the ones that get to the end and just keep jogging. Yeah I will admit that I didn't really train for the race and that made it more difficult.

Pre-race crowd... lots of runners and costumes

I asked around and my sweet friend Lindsay decided that she would run the race with me. Linds and I went to college together and never really worked out then but we did lots of other fun things so I have loved that we finally live in the same town again. I think she trained for the race or did more than I did.

We are ready to run...

Once we got to the race, traffic was a nightmare that day. I was a little afraid that I wouldn't make it to the race before the gun went off but it happens. As we walked up we tied the bells that they gave us in the packet to our shoes so that we could hear the bells at Christmas time. It was really nice to hear the bells in between songs that I was listening to on my phone.

Jingle Bell Sneakers

The race was very very flat and that was wonderful. It was one of the best races that I have run in a while. I enjoyed running and didn't have to walk that many times... it was hard to run the whole time but it was worth it in the end. We ran the first mile together but after that we separated and finished a few minutes apart.

Post-Race Sweaty-ness

I finished the race in 43 minutes, yes I know that is a slow run but for me it was within the goal window, I had high hopes of finishing in under 40 minutes but without training that was very very difficult. I tied the bells on my Christmas Tree to remind myself that you can do anything you put your mind to.

On the tree

I am looking forward to running the race again next year hopefully I will be able to finish the race in less time and maybe not look like I am dying in the post race pictures. Also I will try and find something cute to wear for the race... gotta get in the spirit. Have you ever run a jingle bell run, did you love it?