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Health & Fitness

2012 Peachtree Corners Christmas Run ReCap

More than 400 runners & walkers congregated at Simpsonwood UMC for the 2nd Annual Peachtree Corners Christmas Run. This year there was a Christmas Costume Contest that was a huge success.

Peachtree Corners, GA, Dec. 19, 2012:  More than 400 runners and walkers congregated at Simpsonwood UMC for the 2nd Annual Peachtree Corners Christmas Run. 

This year there was a Christmas Costume Contest that was a huge success.  Runners and Costume participants were greeted by Santa Claus, the Chick-Fil-A Christmas Cow and Sports from Sports Clips. 

One neighbor said, “I woke up, looked out the window and saw Santa, Rudolph, a Nun and an Elf running past my house.”  Peachtree Station neighbors on Stilson Circle encouraged runners with cheers and music.

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5K Winners

Female:  Caroline Reed – 19:41

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Male:  Chris Johnson – 17:12

10K Winners:

Female:  Tara Golden – 41:40

Male:  Nick DelGuercio – 34:32

Other local Results:

10K

Carol Reifenberger - 1:11:36

Renee Trocchio - 1:11:36

Eliza Antonowich - 48:21

Nick Bissell - 45:34

Scott Ortwein - 42:42

Councilman Alex Wright - 50:21

Charles Burts - 1:19:13

Will English- 51:32

5k

Siobhan Bissell - 33:31

Eric Strasburg - 31:53

Fun Run

Councilman Phil Sadd

Complete results:  www.spincyclesports.com

To encourage creative costume participation The Forum donated $1,000 in gift cards from their retailers.  Including; Fab'rik, Festivity, K-La, Merrell, New Balance Atlanta, Silver Linings, Trader Joes, Spa Sydell and more.  The judges had a tough task deciding the best among over 20 categories including; Most Unusual, Most Elaborate, Best Use of Christmas colors, Best representation of Christmas, Best Santa, Most Unexpected, Furriest, scaliest, fluffiest, Best Elf, Most likely to scare the dog, Least Effort and Requiring Most Explanation/ Most confusing.  In the end, the costumes were very creative and everyone had a blast.  One 7-year old girl said, “if we could only do this more often.”

Along with the Run and the Costume contest 15 Artisan Vendors were hand selected and donated over $1,500 in prizes to the Toys for Tots raffle.  “It’s worth all the hard work to produce an event when you take a moment, look around and see all the generous friends and neighbors carrying new unwrapped toys to donate”, said James Lowe event director.  “At the end of the day there were more than 200 unwrapped toys donated”, Lowe said.

An event of this size and scope could not be accomplished without good friends, neighbors, sponsors and judges help.  We would like to recognize the following for their kind contribution: 

FriendsDavid Strout, Tracie Nowak, Marie Frazier, Sally Schlossman, Jill Lowe, Michelle Wehrheim, David Wehrheim, Kim Hartselle, Robert Byers, Victoria Seahorn, Lora Drapeu, Rob Shaver, Wren Chase, Allie Smythe and the Norcross High School Cross Country Booster Club. 

Neighbors Simpsonwood Retreat Center, Simpsonwood UMC, Peachtree Station – Stilson Circle and Gwinnett County Police & Fire Departments. 

SponsorsThe Forum, Back 2 Back Chiropractic , Blue Ribbon Foods , Fleet Feet, Mambo Italiano, Walgreens, Dicks, Chick-Fil-A, Fab'rik, Festivity, K-La, Merrell, New Balance Atlanta, Silver Linings, Trader Joes, Spa Sydell, Barnes & Noble, GameStop, California Pizza Kitchen, Caribou Coffee, J. Alexander's, La Parrilla, Ted's Montana Grill, Sports Clips and Belk.

Judges  -  

Lisa Anders - Minter

Executive Director - Gwinnett CVB

Councilwoman Jeanne Aulbach

City of Peachtree Corners

Pastor Brian Ballard

Christ the King Lutheran

Kirk Barton

Athletics & Activities Director - Norcross High School

Councilwoman Lorri Christopher

City of Peachtree Corners

Reverend Dr. Brian Clark

Simpsonwood United Methodist Church

Ray Cobb, III

President - Inside Gwinnett Magazine

Father David M. Dye

Mary our Queen Catholic Church

Scott Hilton

President - UPCCA

Commissioner Lynette Howard

District 2 Gwinnett County

Pam Ledbetter

President - Accent South Media

Nick Masino

SVP Gwinnett Chamber-Economic Development

Mayor Mike Mason

City of Peachtree Corners

Mike McLaughlin

President - PCBA

Senator Fran Millar

District 40 Georgia State Senate

Mayor Donna Pittman

City of Doraville

Representative Tom Rice

HD 51 GA House of Representatives

Reverend John Strickland

Atlanta Unity Church

Mark Thornell

Executive Director - Fowler YMCA

Preston Williams

CEO - GCVB and Gwinnett Center

Wanda Yeargin

Principal - Pickneyville Middle School

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