Alright, so maybe I didn’t really travel to the North Pole for my December 4th race. This Jolly Jaunt is part of a series of races to benefit the Special Olympics. I was in Danvers, Ma. and the race was put on at the Beverly Hospital.  I have traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles over the past 4 years doing races and somehow I had never run this race. What a mistake on my part.Â
The crowd was somewhere near 1500 runners and the atmosphere was festive, with costumes everywhere you turned.  But some of the costumes and the runners are highlighted in the next entry. I love to also give credit to those without whom these races would not exist–the volunteers. They not only do the work, but, they help set the tone (or spirit if you will) of the day and the event.Â
These 2 pictures are of only a fraction of the wonderful volunteers that made the Dec. 4th race a pleasure to attend. At the “walk-on registration” table I met Nicole, Lisa, and Donna. These were great smiles to start the day with and I knew it was going to be a great day.
Then there was Emma (white sweater) and Pam along with  a group of smiling ladies who were running the shirt tables. Emma and Pam were everywhere during the day and became great people to turn to when I had questions about everything going on.Â
The day also included raffles, one of the biggest food offerings I have ever seen at a road race, and just a tremendous festive atmosphere. Check out the next entry and read about the “carb” table. Â