BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON - Shutting your eyes at the start of the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis makes it easy to imagine that Santa Claus and his reindeer are rushing down the streets - and at a really quick clip.
About 2,500 runners and walkers, most wearing jingle bells, burst from the starting gate Saturday morning, traveling west from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center on River Center Boulevard, over the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, through some downtown Cincinnati streets, back over the same bridge and back to the convention center. The sound of jingle bells helped mark the 5-kilometer course. And even some of the more serious runners decked themselves in fake antlers, Santa caps and Christmas socks as they participated in one of the more festive runs of the year.
Joe Reinstatler, 36, of Western Hills, in Cincinnati, wore a Santa suit, complete with a fake beard. The marathon runner bought the costume five years ago to dress up for his nieces and nephews. Since then, he has worn the costume each of the three times that he has run in the Jingle Bell Run.
He wears it "just because it's the holiday season. I like to see the kids," he said after the race, making eye contact with a child fascinated by his appearance.
This was the first year that the race's start and finish lines were across the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky. The move was made so that a bridge could be featured in the course.
The 12th annual Jingle Bell Run attracted more serious runners because it is the final leg of Miller Lite's Triple Crown of Racing, which includes Willie's Fun Run and the Thanksgiving Day Race. There also are plenty of corporate teams who participate. And many just want to show their support for the Arthritis Foundation's Ohio River Valley chapter, which serves more than 750,000 people, including 15,000 children, in Northern Kentucky, southwestern Ohio and West Virginia. Organizers are expecting this year's event to raise about $35,000 for services and research.
This was the second year that Charlene Schiesler, 46, of Erlanger, walked the 5-K event to demonstrate support for the foundation. She was struck with rheumatoid arthritis about 15 years ago. The daily aches in her joints and muscles range from manageable to severe.
She enjoys the Jingle Bell Run's festive spirit.
"It's so Christmassy," she said Saturday morning, waiting for the event to begin. "They couldn't have named it anything better. Isn't it great?"
Brian and Kevin Allesandro, 18-year-old twins from Fort Thomas, run cross country for Northern Kentucky University. Before the race, they were hoping to run a 16-and-a-half-minute race. They were a little worried that all the jingle bells might break their concentration.
But they also hoped to enjoy some of the Christmas fun. Brian wore a red and white elf's cap.
One in seven people have arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and redness in joints and connective tissues throughout the body. It affects all ages.
