Jingle bells tied to running shoes gave the event a festive, tinny soundtrack.
METUCHEN -- More than 800 people ran and walked a 5K on Sunday to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation.
The annual Jingle Bell 5K Walk/Run in Metuchen started off and ended at the Metuchen High School, with the first runner coming in at about 17 minutes 23 seconds, and plenty of others taking their leisurely time as they walked dogs, pushed strollers or enjoyed the mild, 45-degree weather.
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Many had small jingle bells tied to their running shoes, giving the event a festive, tinny soundtrack.
"People are passionate about our mission, because you can't really exist without knowing someone who has arthritis or a rheumatic disease," said Amy Boright Siperstein, the regional director of the New Jersey chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. "And it's a really fun event. It's that time of the year. People get really into it."
Indeed: A few people dressed up as Santa; there were more elves, naturally; and then there was one somewhat frightening full-body gingerbread man. Nobody caught him.
In New Jersey, a million and a half people are diagnosed with arthritis, Boright Siperstein said, and 9,000 kids have juvenile arthritis.
The Jingle Bell Run is an Arthritis Foundation tradition, and Metuchen's event is the only one in New Jersey.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.