Community comes together for 11th Annual Reindeer Run, celebrating fitness and festive fun – Minden Press-Herald

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The 11th Annual Reindeer Run, hosted by Minden Medical Center Rehab Services, was held last Saturday. This festive event invited participants to run or walk through the beautifully lit Ridgewood neighborhood at night, with runners soaking in the holiday spirit along the way. Whether participating individually or joining forces with friends, coworkers, or family as a team, there was something for everyone to enjoy during this event.

In the Male Open Winners category, Trent Clemons from Minden, LA, secured first place with a chip time of 18:47.0. In the Female Open Winners category, Danielle Nelson of Shreveport, LA, led with a time of 22:22.5.

Among the Male 12 and Under, Connor Nelson from Shreveport, LA, claimed the top spot with a time of 26:53.0, followed by Maddox Snider of Minden, LA (29:40.6), and Wesley Campbell of Homer, LA (34:22.2). In the Female 12 and Under category, Lexi Barnett of Minden, LA, finished first at 34:08.7, with Annabel Campbell of Homer, LA, in second at 39:20.0.

In the Male 13 to 18 category, Paton Boone from Minden, LA, triumphed with a time of 22:36.5, closely followed by Diego Boyd (23:19.6) and Brody Walker (23:20.1), both also from Minden. The Female 13 to 18 group was led by Emma Garner of Sibley, LA, who clocked in at 25:29.8, with Lizzie Balkom of Minden, LA (26:39.0), and Lela Margaret Miller of Minden, LA (27:54.9), rounding out the top three.

In the Male 19 to 29 bracket, Everett McKeller of McKinney, TX, came in first with a time of 19:59.1, while Caleb Pedersoli of Haughton, LA, took second at 28:06.0. The sole winner in the Female 19 to 29 category was Kyndall Hawkins of Sibley, LA, with a time of 50:48.3.

For the Male 30 to 39 category, Luke Luszcak from Shreveport, LA, led the group with a time of 20:48.0, followed by Kaleb Foster from Haughton, LA, at 35:53.6. In the Female 30 to 39 category, Brooke McGaugh of Shreveport, LA, claimed first place with a time of 26:47.7, while Brittany Holly of Sibley, LA, and Virginia Lawrence of Minden, LA, took second and third with times of 35:26.6 and 44:46.0, respectively.

Among the Male 40 to 49, Mark Nelson of Shreveport, LA, finished first with a time of 20:14.5, followed by Mark Wilson (25:38.3) and Alex Kirk of Dubberly, LA (29:05.4). The Female 40 to 49 category saw Kayla Chandler of Minden, LA, finish at 27:14.7, with Trisha Brown (28:16.6) and Amber Barton (29:34.3) following close behind.

In the Male 50 to 59 category, Bruce Miles from Minden, LA, topped the chart with a time of 25:58.5, while Randy Culpepper from Sibley, LA, took second at 35:17.4. For the Female 50 to 59 category, Terri Guin of Minden, LA, led with a time of 39:18.9.

In the Female 60 to 69 category, Sandra Dixon from Stamps, AR, secured first place with a time of 28:03.4, while Kathy Wise of Springhill, LA, finished second at 51:41.5.

In the Male 70 and Over category, Ray Shepherd of Minden, LA, came in first at 37:06.6, followed by Robert Beadle of Benton, LA, in second with a time of 40:45.3.

The group of runners was shining bright that night, with plenty of the runners wearing lit-up necklaces, glow sticks, and other things to brighten up the night. After the run, the participants were able to enjoy an afterparty with fruit, snacks, and hot chocolate while they waited for the results. 

Every year the Reindeer Run is an event that not only introduces the community to some of what Minden Medical Center has to offer but also provides a space and activity that brings the community together during the Christmas season.