JINGLE ALL THE 5K WAY.

Byline: Daily News

PALMDALE - The High Desert Runners are inviting runners, joggers and fitness walkers to participate in their second annual Jingle Bell Jog on Saturday at Marie Kerr Park, 30th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard.

The event will feature a 5-kilometer run/walk on dirt streets east of the park and a half-mile run in the park for children 10 years old and younger.

The 5K event, on a course revised for additional safety, will start at 9 a.m. and the children's event at 9:45 a.m. Both courses are essentially flat.

Male and female winners of the 5K will be awarded trophies. Custom medals will be awarded through second or third place for both male and female runners in age groups ranging from 12 and younger to 70-plus.

Identical medals will be awarded to the top three boys and the top three girls in the children's run, and all other youngsters who finish will get ribbons.

Members of the Highland High School cross country team will help staff the races and are custom-making a jingle bell and a mistletoe brooch for each of at least 50 entrants - the earliest to register.

In addition, there will be a post-race raffle for meals at the HomeTown Buffet in Palmdale.

Entry fees on racing day will be $7 for the 5K and $3 for the children's Elf Run. Racing-day registration will start at 7:30 a.m. at the park.

For more information, call Alan Brown at [phone] or Cassie Ramirez at [phone].