The annual ringing of bells was dampened by a light rain for the 18th Jingle Bell Run For Arthritis 10K and 7th 5K. The events were held just blocks away from the White House in Washington, DC. There were 1,341 registered for the 5K and 2,547 for the 10K.

In the 10K, the Quantico Marines sent some of their finest runners to do battle, LCpl Erik Kweder and GySgt Ed Holloway. The mix included two-time winner (31:27-1997, 30:58-1998), George Probst of Blacksburg, VA, and the 1996 winner (33:11) Eric Desautels, and Edmund Burke of Burtonsville, Md. The event record was set in 1986 at 29:58.

The female field included Cathy Pugsley of Annandale, Melissa Rittenhouse of Baltimore, Team Pacers of Old Town Alexandria members Heather Hanscom and Sharon Servidio, and Kristen Black. The female mark was set in 1993 (35:11) by Christine (Constantin) Ireland.

The runners raced toward the U.S. Capitol in a pack of five runners with Michael Wardian of Team Pacers in the lead for the first half mile. Kweder, Probst, Desautels, and Burke took control and went through the first mile in 5 minutes.

In the second mile, it was down to three runners, Kweder, Probst, and Burke. At mile five, 25:03, it was down to Probst and Burke. The two were on Pennsylvania Avenue with less than a mile to go. It was down to the last 800 meters and Burke threw in one last surge and went on to take first in 30:55, the fourth fastest winning time. Probst was second in 30:59 and Kweder was third in 31:10.

Hanscom, in her Jingle Bell debut, worked to the front and dominated the race with the fourth fastest winning time in 35:50. Casey Smith of Mechanicsville, VA, was second in 36:32. Servidio was third in 37:18, with Pugsley in fourth in 37:46, and Rittenhouse in fifth with 37:54.

The masters were led by Peter Kirk of Rockville, MD, in 35:40 and Betty Blank of Falls Church, VA, in 42:58.

The 5K
The victory in the 5K was taken by Todd Martin of Herndon, VA, in 16:33 followed by Jesse Leifert of McLean, in 16:38. Zachary Vaslow (16), of Bethesda, was third in 16:42.

Fairfax County firefighter Jackie Concaugh (Team Saucony) of Alexandria, captured first in a record-setting time of 18:05. April Brannon of Washington was second in 18:57. Marine Captain Kristin McCann of Quantico was third in 19:24.

The masters division victories went to Jim Wadsworth of Alexandria in 17:32 and Renee West of Bethesda, in 21:58.

Arthritis is one of the country's primary health problems, affecting one out of every six people in the country--more than 500,000 in the Metropolitan Washington area. It strikes people of all ages, including children and young adults. The Arthritis Foundation sponsors research that is uncovering the causes, prevention, and treatments for the more than 100 arthritis- related diseases.

Thanks to the numerous sponsors and supporters, to name a few, Aventis, Booz Allen Hamilton, Nissan, Smooth Jazz 105.9, Modell's, Midwest Express Airlines, and AirTan Airways.

Full results of the 10K and 5K races are posted on the Washington Running Report's December Results page.