Healthy start to New Year in West Palm Beach

Patti Kadis and her dog Lily in the Run and Roll store

While many people were just crawling out of bed Tuesday morning, a dedicated group of about 70 met at the Run and Roll store in West Palm Beach.

The free, 3-mile family fun run/walk started precisely at 10 a.m. on New Year's Day with a countdown outside the fitness wear store in the 300 block of Clematis Street. The event was sponsored by the store and the Palm Beach RoadRunners group.

Store owner Patti Kadis says she also sponsors other fitness activities throughout the week. On Tuesday evenings, a group of power walkers meet at the store. Wednesday evenings are for runners, as are Saturday mornings. Kadis, who has been a runner for over 4 decades, recently moved her story from CityPlace, a shopping and entertainment complex about .5 mile southwest of downtown.

Run for pies in Tequesta

Runner holding an apple pie (photo provided)

This Thanksgiving, while most of us are just rising, nearly 1,600 runners will line up in Tequesta for the 8 a.m. start of the 12th annual Run 4 the Pies.

The 4-mile race is sponsored by four organizations: Village of Tequesta, Palm Beach Roadrunners, Publix grocery stores and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tequesta.

The first 900 finishers will receive a fresh-baked apple pie from Publix, says Bob Anderson, who is in his fifth year as race co-director. The other 700 or so runners will get a $2-off coupon for a Publix bakery item. "That way, no one walks away empty-handed," he adds.