FRESH AIR

Start a healthy new year with the new Pine Pacer Challenge running and walking event. Select a goal of 25, 50 or 100 miles to complete in January, then track your mileage on the virtual results website. Miles can be completed at the arboretum, in your neighborhood, on a treadmill or anywhere else they enjoy. All participants will receive a fleece-lined pullover and a challenge sticker.

Visit the Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum has a full range of activities on location and online for you to enjoy in January and through the winter. New this year is the Pine Pacer Challenge.

Start 2021 off on the right foot with a new running and walking challenge from the arboretum. Participants are invited to set a goal of 25, 50, or 100 miles, track their activities through the month of January, and submit mileage on the arboretum's virtual result website to chart their progress. Though participants are encouraged to get their miles onsite at the arboretum, they can also simply run or walk around the block, on a treadmill or anywhere else they enjoy. The goal is to meet a personal challenge, and enjoy the many health benefits of physical activity and spending time in nature.

All participants will receive one of the arboretum's fleece-lined, long-sleeved, quarter-zip pullover, as well as a challenge sticker. Members can run or walk at the arboretum anytime by reserving a free, timed admission pass, while guests may reserve one free admission pass each week of the challenge. As a special bonus, guests will also have the option of purchasing an arboretum membership at a $10 discount when they register for the challenge.

Register through Jan. 15. Fees and admission are $40 for members and $50 for guests $50.

The arboretum also has several other activities at the location itself and online. Some of these include snowshoe and cross country trails, and rentals, a Gnome hunt where you can search for 15 gnomes hiding in thee Children’s Garden, Winter pruning, on premise and online, Dog Admission Day on January 31, Guided Hikes on January 22, Trolls after dark, a guided hike on January 21, and a host of activities to bring you closer to nature and hone your creative skills, or just join workouts. To learn more about all of these activities, simply go to Mortonarb.org. 

BY LARRY ATSEFF