Joey Castagnaro doesn't run many races in Tallahassee, Florida. But when he does, he's usually near the front. For instance, Castagnaro was fourth in the high school boys' 5K at the 2010 Florida State University Cross-Country Invitational. He won the Chiles High School March of Dimes 5K in 2014. And on Saturday evening, 3 December 2017, Castagnaro won Tallahassee's Jingle Bell Run 3K, outrunning thousands with a 9:13. Maclay School sophomore Rachael Stockel was the first female finisher, running 11:04.The Jingle Bell Run was the first of Saturday evening events at Tallahassee's 31st annual Winter Festival. It's not an exaggeration to say that a few thousand people participate in the run each year, but most of them are content to stumble along, pushing strollers, walking dogs, and aglow with light emitting diodes in festive colors. Even though there are no results, there are always a few athletes up front who race the event. For them, the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department has started tracking the overall winners, male and female. There's a plaque for each, and rumors of an honored spot (right next to Santa) in the Winter Festival Nighttime Holiday Parade that follows the run.
For most of the field, though, it's not about speed, or place, or Boston qualifiers. It's about a chance to get a T-shirt and trot around the streets of downtown Tallahassee in a Santa cap.
| Recent winners of Tallahassee's Jingle Bell Run, 2009 - 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Men | Women |
| 19 December 2009 | Matt Mizereck, 9:45 | Kirsten Hagen, 12:44 |
| 4 December 2010 | Jacob Slupecki, 10:05 | Kirsten Hagen, 12:32 |
| 3 December 2011 | Stanley Linton, 9:57 | Stefanie Kurgatt, 12:18 |
| 1 December 2012 | Stanley Linton, 10:04 | Katherine Resavage, 13:24 |
| 7 December 2013 | Connor Hollander, 8:34 | Lindsay Taylor, 11:14 |
| 6 December 2014 | Joseph Garcia, 8:27 | Jillian Heddaeus, 10:46 |
| 5 December 2015 | Adam Wallenfelsz, 9:09 | Jillian Heddaeus, 10:38 |
| 4 December 2016 | Christopher Haynes, 7:52 | Jillian Heddaeus, 10:35 |
| 3 December 2017 | Joey Castagnaro, 9:13 | Rachael Stockel, 11:04 |
| I've included times, but the figures aren't meaningful because the course and distance change frequently. | ||
Links
- Complete results of Tallahassee's 2017 Jingle Bell Run
Bah! Humbug!
- A few more photos of the 2015 Tallahassee Jingle Bell Run
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10106963845469703.1073742158.5215641&l=b967118079
- 2015 story, “Wallenfelsz and Heddaeus emerge from the masses at Tallahassee's Jingle Bell Run”
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2015/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2015.html
- 2014 story, “Tallahassee Jingle Bell victories for Garcia and Heddaeus”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2014/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2014.html
- 2013 story, “Rain on their parade doesn't dampen Hollander or Taylor's Christmas spirits”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2013/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2013.html
- 2012 story, “Jingle Bells peal victory for Linton and Resavage”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2012/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2012.html
- 2011 story, “Linton and Kurgatt head the horde at Jingle Bell 3K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2011/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2011.html
- 2010 story, “Slupecki and Hagen lead a cast of thousands at the Jingle Bell 3K”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2010/12/tlh-jingle-bell-2010.html
- 2009 story, “Mizereck masters the mob at Jingle Bell Run”
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2009/12/mizereck-masters-mob-at-jingle-bell-run.html
- Course map for Tallahassee's 2017 Jingle Bell Run 3K
https://app.box.com/s/ljh956zp3o8j4fhb5y4r1ec5c5ht65kl
- Find upcoming races that include timing and results on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
http://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
