Jenny Kincaid Boone

Jenny Kincaid Boone has been running since she was in eighth grade. She competed in cross country and track at Fort Defiance High School (Fort Defiance, Va.) and at Roanoke College, where she was all-ODAC in cross country for four years. When her knees and legs aren't aching from the wear of years of competition, she hits the 19 to low 20-minute range for a 5K.

Recent columns

• A five-miler at the Lake
• Virtual running
• Giving triathlons a try
• Packing energy for the long haul

Strap on your bells, your fleece, gloves and hat. The Lewis-Gale Jingle Bell 5K Race/Walk for Arthritis is coming up in Roanoke this Saturday. This is the 15th year for the downtown Roanoke race, which has brought at least 700 runners in other years.

Race organizer Paula Mitchell said the 3.1 mile race will cover the same rolling downtown and Southwest Roanoke course as other years, except there’s a slight change to bypass some construction is going on near Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The race will follow Jefferson Street toward South Roanoke and turn right onto Weller Avenue. It’ll circle onto Wiley Drive and then cross a short footbridge to the right, cutting through the Victory Stadium parking lot. Then, the course will turn back onto Jefferson Street towards downtown Roanoke for the finish.

The race already is on track to have the same numbers as other years. More than 500 people have registered and typically 100 to 200 more sign up on event day, Mitchell said.

Despite frigid December temperatures, this race is competitive. Bonnie McDonald, a local running standout, won last year in 19 minutes 50 seconds. Jay Johns finished first for the men in 15:56. The race also offers chip timing.

Mitchell said she’s already checked the weather forecast and this year could be another cold day for the 5K run and 1-mile walk. The low for the day and probably much of the early morning will be 18 degrees. But there’s a bright side. Temperatures will warm up to the 40s, Mitchell said. But runners likely won’t experience the warmer temperatures until after they cross the finish line.

Race Details:
Lewis-Gale Jingle Bell Run & Walk for Arthritis Saturday, Dec. 10

9 a.m. start of the 5K race

Race starts near the former Fink’s building on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke.

Friday, Dec. 9: Packet pick-up and registration at Lewis Gale’s Center for Outpatient Physical Therapy on Peters Creek Road from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Event day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce building on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke Proceeds benefit the Arthritis Foundation

Tips for racing and running in the cold weather:

1) Stretch indoors if you can. This will help your muscles warm up quicker.

2) Stretch well before and after the race to prevent muscle tightness from the cold weather.

3) Layer your clothing with a moisture wicking shirt underneath. But don’t wear too much. If you are warm or comfortable before the race starts, you are wearing too much and you will get hot.

4) Depending on the temperatures, wear a wool or breathable hat or other kind of head-warmer that will cover your ears.

5) Wear mittens rather than gloves. Mittens keep hands warmer than gloves.

Source: Runners’ World, RunningOnline.com