1156Run and RIP LB team up for winter run series

1156Run and RIP LB are holding a “1156RUNITOFF” on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m. at Magnolia Boulevard on the Boardwalk

Jessie Farrell/Herald

1156Run and RipLB will host the “Hot Chocolate Run” series to encourage residents to stay active and healthy through the cold months ahead.

“Winter is not only a time that people become less active, but can also be a time of struggle for those battling mental health or substance abuse issues,” said 1156Run founder Keith Grant. “A regular group run with a fun theme attached to it can help encourage people to stay active even when it’s not ideal weather out.”

The series of 5K runs will kick off with a “1156RunItOff!” post-Thanksgiving boardwalk run on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m., starting at Magnolia Blvd. Additional runs in the series will follow on Dec. 27, Jan. 31, Feb. 28 and March 28, all Saturday mornings.

All of the runs are free, non-competitive events, designed to allow runners to motivate and inspire each other to stay active through the winter months. All participants can enjoy a post-run hot chocolate at the finish.

"Living well, together, and working for an important cause is what RipLB is all about,” said RipLB founder Jennifer Lebowitz. “So we're incredibly thrilled to partner up on such an awesome series of events.”

RipLB was founded earlier this year in the wake of several tragic deaths of young local residents. Its aim is to create “a riptide of positivity to counter the epidemic of tragic overdose and mental-health-related deaths in LBNY and beyond.”

The group has hosted a string of local workshops with mental health and substance abuse experts. 1156Run recently helped bring about the “Long Beach Community 5K Run” for Sandy recovery efforts, with proceeds supporting the “Run, Ride, Rebuild Long Beach” event being planned for next spring. Additional information on the runs and other upcoming events can be found on the groups’ respective Facebook pages, or by emailing 1156Run@gmail.com.