RUNNING IN UGLY SWEATERS & NATIONAL DAY

My circa 1980's Christmas "Woodlands" cardigan sweater with bears, moose, trees, and snowflakes. PKSenagore November 30, 2016 all rights reserved

PREPARE NOW: DECEMBER 16 IS NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY
Wonder what to wear running in Ugly Sweater 5ks? How about an NFL THEME? Choose from a variety of NFL Ugly Sweaters and honor/disrespect your favorite team in style as you keep pace with other revelers in one of the growing number of these fun run events held in the weeks and days leading up to the holidays. (see below some Amazon links)
 
If you don’t plan to run a race in such hideous garb you can still get in on the fun wherever you are ON DECEMBER 16. Did you know that the third Friday in December has officially been National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day since 2011? I have seen some Hanukkah sweaters with great personality, so I don’t think this needs to be a purely Christian tradition. Tacky sweaters seem to be ubiquitous cold weather holiday-wear.
 
Of course you can go with any other horrible looking piece of sweater-like clothing purchased online or found in an attic or resale store. A search of Amazon.com reveals many offerings by vendors of knitted ugliness.  Target and Kohl’s online stores advertise these wearables. A personal favorite is one that slightly resembles that which Bridget Jones found so appealing on Mark Darcy in the “BJ’s Diary” movie: a maroon ‘jumper’, that sports a reindeer head in which the antlers are decorated with embroidered holiday lights. It’s on Amazon.com. (See link below)
 
Races seem to be scheduled after Thanksgiving Day; the earliest I found had been held November 26 inKent City MI. There’s a company-sponsored race series called “The Ugly Sweater Run Presented by Kahlua” held in multiple larger cities on each of the December weekends. Knit hats are given to registered participants, as well as a Kahlua cocktail for the over-21’s. Fleet Feet stores in several locations are sponsoring upcoming events.
 
Small and moderate sized cities are getting into the tradition as well. Kent City is joined by Allegan MI, Tulsa OK, and Ridgefield WA (all on Dec 3).  Auburn MI (Dec 10) and Midland MI (Dec 19) are sponsoring runs later in the month.  This kind of event seems to be family- and friend-friendly, an activity that sweater-wearers of all ages can appreciate. Participants are encouraged to embellish an article of clothing that already looks over-the-top ridiculous!  A great idea for a pre-race craft party. The addition of flashing lights seems to be a favorite way to customize sweaters and would be ideal for a night-time event like the one in Midland MI.
 
Find a race near you and “jingle all the way” in a fun 5K. Since I searched the internet while in Michigan, it’s possible those selected for viewing were closest to my physical location. PLEASE COMMENT AND ADD TO OUR LIST IF YOU FOUND OTHERS NEAR YOU elsewhere in the country or globe. The smaller the event venue, the cozier and ‘home-for-the-holidays” special they will be to join.
 
RUN HAPPY!
 
http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-ugly-christmas-sweater-day-third-friday-in-december/

More links to the races and websites can be accessed in the "Read More" section below

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Runners Athletic Company Run/Walk, Midland MI (Dec 19, night time)
http://www.runnersathleticcompany.com/store-events/2016/12/19/annual-ugly-sweater-fun-runwalk-with-new-balance
 
Fleet Feet, Severna Park MD (Dec 17), Raleigh NC area (Dec 19), Asheville NC (Dec 21)
http://www.fleetfeetannapolis.com/our-fun-runs/ugly-sweater-run
http://www.fleetfeetraleigh.com/events/ugly-sweater-runs
http://www.fleetfeetasheville.com/events/ugly-sweater-run
 
Jaycees Run/Walk, Auburn MI, (Dec 10)
https://runsignup.com/race/mi/auburn/auburnuglysweater5krunwalk?
 
Allegan MI (Dec 3)
http://www.alleganuglysweater.com/about.html
 
RunnersWorld 5k Tulsa OK (Dec 3)
https://www.runnersworldtulsa.com/events.html
 
Ridgefield WA (Dec 3)
http://www.runridgefield.com/HolidayFunRun.html

Kent City MI (Nov 26)
https://www.facebook.com/The-Ugly-Christmas-Sweater-5K-RunWalk-488791151188144/