PHOTOS BY RON BAILEY

Solomons, MD – The annual Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5 Kilometer (K) race in Solomons is always a test to see who can best brave the elements. It’s also a Yuletide costume party and an opportunity to get in shape before the holiday feeding frenzies ramp up.

There were elements aplenty Saturday, Dec. 6 as the main event—following the traditional Rudolph Romp for the wee ones—starting rolling around 8:30 a.m. Despite rain, fog and cold, close to 700 finished the race.

The dash belonged to the teens of Calvert County—three 17-year-olds finished ahead of the pack. Trent Herzog of Lusby took first place with a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds; Jordan Blankenship of St. Leonard wasn’t far behind, logging a time of 16 minutes, 55 seconds; and Turner Chaundy of Solomons posted a time of 17 minutes, eight seconds.

The top female finisher was Hayley Jackson, 15 of Lusby, whose time was 18 minutes, two seconds.

In all 17 racers finished the 5K in less than 20 minutes.

Several participants were aligned with teams and the top three groups were Panther Pride, Nukes Against Arthritis and Stoney’s Broomes Island.

While many runners who are focused on notching a victory in one of the region’s largest road races forego donning the Santa hats, reindeer antlers, Christmas tree costumes and elf suits, just about every participant attaches the jingle bells to their shoes.

The 5K also puts a big jingle in the coffers of the Maryland Arthritis Foundation. According to the Arthritis Foundation web site, the Solomons event raised nearly $30,000 this year. The foundation sponsors the Jingle Bell Run in dozens of locations across the country. Although Solomons is arguably one of the smaller venues population-wise, its Jingle Bell Run rates number 74 in the U.S.

The money raised will aid in research to find a cure for arthritis, which is the nation’s leading cause of disability.

For more information on the Arthritis Foundation, visit www.arthritis.org

To view complete results of the 2014 Solomons Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5K, visit the Chesapeake Bay Running Club’s web site at www.cbrc.org

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com