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By JON WILSON, Consulting Editor, TB Reporter

Two popular Pinellas running events are coming up during the next few days.

There is still time to register for two of Pinellas County’s oldest races: St. Petersburg’s Jingle Bell Run on Wednesday (Dec. 14), 7:30 p.m. at the North Shore South parking lot on Bayshore Drive NE; and Clearwater’s Say No to Drugs on Saturday (Dec. 17), 8 a.m. at Coachman Park.

The Jingle Bell Run, in its 34th renewal this year, is not a competitive race. It is not officially timed and it is geared toward holiday fun with plenty of (no surprise) jingling bells, glow necklaces, decorated pets and luminaries along a waterfront course in downtown St. Petersburg. The run reverts to its roots this year, starting as it did in its early days at North Shore Park. More recently, it has started and finished at end of The Pier, now blocked because of demolition and construction plans. Distance has been altered to 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles). To register and for information about prices and starting times, go here: boleycenters.org.

The Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic, which offers 10K, 5K and mile races, began 28 years ago, according to the event’s web site. Among elite athletes who have competed are six-time World Ironman Triathlon champion Mark Allen, Olympians Peter Maher, Ronnie Holassie and Dan Otz. The race also is a magnet for top Tampa Bay runners. And there’s a pancake breakfast at the finish. For all the information and to register, go here: say-no-to-drugs-race.myshopify.com.

Pinellas | Sports | Running | Jingle Bell Run | Say No to Drugs | TB Reporter

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