I met my Big Brothers Big Sisters little brother, Brendan, in the parking lot of the Downtown YMCA at 9:30. We are going to participant in one of Boise’s most fun events. The annual YMCA Christmas Run/Walk.

As the start time of 10:00 approaches the participants are pressed together at the starting line. This year the announced number of participants is 1,800. That is a lot of people gathered in one place in freezing weather. The energy of the group rises as the announcer prepares to give the starting signal. Then we are off! Slowly shuffling as the crowd begins to move forward. Gradually our stride changes from a shuffle, to a slow walk, to a full stride. It’s best to move in a straight line forward as the runners from the back start weaving their way forward.

Brendan and I are smiling as we press forward with the others in my third, Brendan’s first, YMCA Christmas Run/Walk. It is an amazing event that brings a diverse group of people together for fun and recreation. Every level of ability is represented from the amazingly fast distance runners, people determined to improve their fitness, to toddlers being dragged by mom or dad, to babies in strollers.

There are lots of Santa hats and every variation of Christmas outfit imaginable. From a runner completely covered in an abominable snowman suit to one with nothing but sneakers and a wrapped present box covering his loins.

Brendan’s favorite costume was the green Grinch. Mine was Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang with large round heads. Throughout the walk we were greeted by people on porches and groups gathered on the sidewalk. Looking forward and back for several blocks it is one mass of people with the most common feature being the big smiles on their faces.

In one block we are serenaded by an organized group singing Christmas carols. Another block and we are marching to the tunes from a group of young musicians playing their instruments with their frozen fingers and lips. Brendan and I keep our eyes peeled as we check the eves of each house in a hunt for the largest icicle.  The best part of the event is watching Brendan take everything in. People, pets, costumes, as we experience the frigid air during our invigorating 2.5 mile walk that goes by faster than expected.

Thank you to all the volunteers who worked traffic, set up everything, and those serving the food at the finish.  It was a great morning with special people.

• St. Luke’s Womens Challenge
• Walking with Dinosaurs
• Chf Comes to the Rescue
• Pepsi Night Fire Nationals
• Boise is a small network