They lurk in closets. Under beds. Stuffed in the back of dresser drawers. Forgotten. Neglected. Until that special time of year when they are pulled out for an airing.
Something about the Christmas season makes the wearing of gaudy, flashy sweaters not only acceptable but appealing. Covered with dancing elves, frolicking reindeer or maybe a creepy, staring Santa, ugly Christmas sweaters are great conversation pieces. They're also a great theme for races, as the many sweater-related 5Ks across the nation attest.
Whether it was a gift from sartorially challenged Aunt Beulah, a gag gift or an impulse buy inspired by a temporary tidal wave of Christmas joy, nearly everyone has or has access to an ugly Christmas sweater, and so everyone is invited to the Prescott Athletic Booster Club's Ugly Christmas Sweater 5K, 8 a.m. Saturday. Don that colorful, tacky holiday apparel.
This is the club's second 5K; last year organizers scheduled the run for Halloween. This year, they chose what is supposed to be a less scary holiday.
"One of the athletes thought of it after Googling December 5Ks," director Allison Kisselburg explains.
The course starts at Prescott High School, 762 Martin St., and will be well marked, with water stops along the way.
Ugly sweaters are not required for participation. Not everyone has succumbed to the lure of fuzzy, cheery tackiness, and the race directors certainly don't want to leave anyone out.
Even on a cold day, running while wearing a sweater can get a little uncomfortable. Once the body's internal radiator kicks into gear, wool is an itchy encumbrance. So runners are allowed to ditch the sweaters en route.
Kisselburg adds, "As a runner, I would recommend it!"
The race will not be chip-timed, but awards will be given out three deep in each age division (10-year increments) and for the top three overall walkers and runners.
There will also be Ugliest Sweater awards for those brave enough to attend with a giant, grinning Rudolph on their chests.
Children 12 and under are invited to sprint their way through a half-mile kids run.
Registration is $25, $5 for the kids run. The money raised will go toward letterman jackets and other merchandise for high school athletes. "Our athletes deserve their hoodies, letterman jackets and blankets, and it takes a lot to purchase them," says Kisselburg.
Call (870) 887-7655 or visit hopeprescott.com.
Through the trees
December is supposed to be full of holiday craziness, but sometimes it's a good idea to stop, breathe deeply and take a step back. Or maybe a step out -- as in outside.
Even though the leaves have fallen off the trees, there's still a lot of natural beauty at state parks. Actually, there may be even more to see, now that those pesky leaves are out of the way.
To show off the views that are hidden during those leafy months, Mount Magazine State Park is conducting two Winter Vista hikes, 10 a.m. Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. Dec. 20.
Participants will meet at the Brown Springs Picnic Area and then head off for a guided walk to the cliff edges for expansive views of Arkansas that aren't always accessible. The trail isn't always accessible, either, since it's actually a U.S. Forest Service fire break.
It is, however, "the flattest and easiest walking area on the mountain," according to interpreter Don Simons.
Participation is free and photography is encouraged.
Those looking for something a bit more strenuous can join another free hike, the Mount Magazine Falls Expedition, 10 a.m. Dec. 20, departing from the North Rim Trailhead on Cameron Bluff Overlook Drive. The falls are often dry, so when seasonal rains get them going, the park schedules special hikes.
The trail to Mount Magazine Falls is accessible without a guide, but the route can be slippery, with loose rocks and steep slopes. "It's a good place to twist an ankle," Simons says. So, it's a good idea to have companionship when attempting a trek.
Along the way to the falls, there will be a stop at the Barn Cave, a bluff shelter that served as a cow corral in the 19th century.
Call (479) 963-8502 or visit mountmagazinestatepark.com.
Off-track
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is another familiar hiking spot that's giving visitors a chance to shake things up a bit with some out-of-the-way exploring. Participation is free.
Many outdoors enthusiasts and walkers like Pinnacle for its central, convenient location. But when all the trails have been hiked many times, some visitors like to challenge themselves -- and inadvertently end up hurting the park in the process.
Interpreter Gillian H. Rossi explains, "We have a lot of visitors that have been creating their own trails around the park, 'rogue trails,' which contribute to erosion and cause harm to protected wildlife."
During December, the park gives adventure-minded hikers who are looking for something a little different a safer, park-sanctioned way to get off the beaten path: a Hike in the Hills series. On these hikes, interpreters lead visitors on off-trail hikes to some of the lesser-known locations within the park's property.
At 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 21, interested hikers will assemble at the visitor center, where an interpreter will give them three off-trail hike options to explore one of the park's seven peaks. It's up to the visitors which route to take.
The hikes vary in difficulty from moderately strenuous to strenuous.
"If you are fit enough to climb Pinnacle Mountain, you are fit enough to attend Hike in the Hills," says Rossi.
Everyone should wear sturdy shoes, appropriate clothing and pack along water and a light snack.
Call (501) 868-5806 or visit arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.
Readers can send tips about wellness-supporting active recreation opportunities to Jennifer Nixon at
jnixon@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 12/08/2014