I just signed up for next month’s Jingle Bell Run.  Perhaps I’m still on a high from this morning’s Seattle Marathon 5K, but I’m eagerly looking forward to this next race.  Registration was $30.00.  For that fee I get a chip-timed race result, a T-shirt, and all the free goodies I can ask for at the post-race vendor tables.

I don’t know anyone with arthritis (I think), and am not particularly adept at fundraising, so I signed up as an individual vs. as part of a team that commits to raising funds.  I suppose part of me wishes I were the type of person that could go out and enthusiastically buttonhole everyone I know to contribute money for a worthy cause, but that’s just not me.  On the other hand, I’ve seen a lot of changes in myself over the last couple years, so next year, who knows…

An interesting tidbit about the registration process.  I didn’t even know where, or how far, the race was until after the fact.  I found out by clicking on “Event Details” that it’s a 5K, and it starts somewhere near Westlake Center on Sunday the 13th.  Looking further, I found a PDF-format course map that shows that the race starts at 5th and Pine and ends “approximately 6.9 meters from [the] lamp post on [the] corner” of 6th and Pine.  Interesting.

Training?  Well, based on today’s result I’ll be doing a lot more speed work – intervals, mostly.  I need to get more comfortable running fast, because my base endurance is good enough for a race of this length.  I’ll probably try to get outdoors as well, because running on the pavement is way different (and more difficult) than running on the treadmill at the gym.

So, what are you waiting for?  Sign up and join me for the race!