Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
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While the Jingle 5k in Lakewood Ranch Dec. 12 did draw its share of serious runners, most of the more than 500 runners who participated came to either be a part of a fun event or to support the race's charities.
The fun part was obvious. Many of the runners dressed in bright holiday colors with Christmas-tree strands of blinking lights wrapped around them. Others wore bells that jingled with every stride.
Proceeds from the race benefitted the Big Bill Foundation and the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Foundation.
Lakewood Ranch's Erin Petraites was one of the runners who just wanted to support the causes.
"I've always wanted to do a 5K and this one looks like a lot of fun," said Petraites, who said she planned to walk the first 5K of her life.
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Others were more serious about the actually running. Derek Robinson, a 2025 Lakewood Ranch High graduate, won the event in 15:51, holding off David Proudfoot, also of Lakewood Ranch, who finished in 16:14.
Lakewood Ranch's Sebastian Nantes, 12, was running his first 5K. His mom, Karyn Nantes, who is a runner, picked the race out for him. She said her son has shown a lot of talent for running.
He finished 30th overall in 20:51 and first in his age division.
"He just started running," Karyn Nantes said. "And he is blowing them out of the park."
Parrish 4-year-old Ava O'Neil shows off her medal after the kids race at the Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton's Brandi Davis and Parrish's Carrie Rings are set to run the Jingle 5K in some holiday-colored outfits.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Jacob Wong and Tatum Thornton show off their Willis Smith Construction running shirts before starting the 2025 Jingle 5K in Lakewood Ranch. Wong is a superintendent for Willis Smith.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Erin Petraites chats with Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) before the Jingle 5K. She said he planned to walk the 5K.
Photo by Jay Heater
Jenn Lammi, Jenn Shaw, Mike Shaw, Caroline Magnusson and Debbie Stickel prepare to run the Jingle 5K. The women all became friends through Lammi, who is a trainer at Pumps Fitness.
Photo by Jay Heater
Scott Gingrich and Nikki Gingrich are looking festive before the start of the Jingle 5K in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sebastian Nantes is ready to run his first 5K with support from his mom, Karyn Nantes, at the Jingle 5K.
Photo by Jay Heater
Members of Brandon's Fishhawk Roadrunners Club show their respect during the National Anthem at the Jingle 5K.
Photo by Jay Heater
More than 500 runners get ready to start the Jingle 5K in Lakewood Ranch on Dec. 12.
Photo by Jay Heater
The runners take their first strides in the Jingle 5K on Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
The Jingle 5K in Lakewood Ranch attracted 509 runners, who all received a medal upon finishing the race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch High graduate Derek Robinson, who on Thanksgiving Day won the Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park, added a Jingle 5K title to his trophy case. Robinson clocked a 15:52 to win the event that was held Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
