Jump Start January with Niwot's Fun Run

As part of Jump Start January, everyone is invited to join in a community fun run. Runners should meet in front of Niwot Market on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 9:15 a.m., with the starting gun set to go off at 9:30 a.m.

At the end of the four miles, participants are invited to join in for free coffee, hot cocoa and a prize drawing. Prizes are yet to be determined.

The untimed race will be relaxed and fun, not competitive. It will be held in any weather, including rain, shine, or snow. All participants are asked to make a $10 donation at the beginning of the run which will go to the Niwot Business Association in support of businesses struggling with COVID-19 restrictions.

Runners are asked to comply with the now-familiar request to practice safety precautions. These include wearing masks or face-covering buffs and practicing social distancing when gathering with the larger group before and after the run. Runners are also asked to maintain masking during the race when coming close to others they don't live with.

The donation request, the COVID-19 precautions, and the prize drawing are similar to what happened at the last community-wide run, a Turkey Trot that took place in Cottonwood Square Thanksgiving morning. The event drew about 40 runners who raised money for the Left Hand Grange. Thanksgiving-themed raffle prizes included a ham, several pies, and Niwot Market coffee.

Alison Steele, co-owner of Niwot Market and a running enthusiast, is behind the effort, and one of the supporters for Jump Start January. "I think it's a good way to get people out and about and to get the community together. Last time, there was a bunch of families that took part - grandparents and kids. It was really nice to see."

The Jump Start January race is the second fun run in as many months, and Steele said the planning is intentional. Steele hopes to do these runs monthly and a follow up race, possibly with a Valentine's Day theme, is being planned for February.

She has some bigger plans for these future races that she feels she can implement once Covid-19 is under better control. They include more serious, developed races with T-shirts, documented race times for serious runners, and perhaps, activities to build interest for younger, less experienced participants or families. She hoped that these more developed races could be organized three or four times a year.

When talking about the race, Steele wanted to remind the community about the larger Jump Start January program, where residents can receive a booklet containing a list of healthy activities, and are encouraged to check off completed items in order to be entered into a drawing with prizes from Niwot small businesses.

Steele mentioned that Niwot Market is doing its part to support these kinds of healthy January efforts, which include selling a wider range of immunity boosters and vitamins to promote an active health-based lifestyle.

For more information on the fun run, or to be notified about future races, email Steele at alison@niwotmarket.com