Come rain or shine, Bellinghamsters show up in force in holiday costumes and with bells on their…read moreshoes to run/walk this flat 5k course each year in support of the Arthritis Foundation. The race starts at the Bellingham High School on Cornwall Avenue and snakes through the Lettered neighborhood. The school band performs at the start line and gets everyone jazzed up as they pick up their race packets. Along the course, there are usually cheerleaders and people holding fun signs of encouragement. You can register online as an individual or as a team for this event. Those raising additional money for the Arthritis Foundation can win prizes for reaching certain fundraising levels. In 2014, I managed to score some fun, candy stripped, knee-high, wool socks for my efforts. If you don't want to run, you can walk. If you don't want to walk, you can donate on behalf of an individual or team who is participating. It is a great non-profit to support, and the Arthritis Foundation makes it easy for everyone to get involved and educated about the cause. FYI, it is worth going to the pre-packet pickup event held several days before the race. It is an event in itself. In 2015, the pre-packet pickup was held at Wilson Motors. Kulshan Brewery was handing out sparkling cider and beer on tap. You could enjoy bratwurst or pork tenderloin. The kids can get photos with Santa and his elves or take a horse carriage around the lot. The best part....all of this fun was provided free! This is truly a B'ham holiday tradition that everyone should come out and do each year.

The Jingle Bell Run was a really fun event! My favorite part about these runs is getting to people…read morewatch and see the fun costumes and spirit people have! They had a costume contest, the Bellingham High School band playing, a few booths set up with fun goodies and snacks, and was really a fun turn out! A few street were covered in ice, but the route was pretty well planned and we slipped and slid to the finish line! They also allowed dogs for those who signed up to walk, and there was a lot of furry friends joining us in the fun! There seemed to be plenty of street parking and parking spaces in the schools near by. This was a great event for a great cause and plan to make this an annual run to join!

Long overdue review…read more Just a quick background about myself. My experience with road riding is as beginner as they get; I knew nothing about cycling, but being in my early 30's I did know that I wanted to put some miles on my recent road bike purchase, and get back into fitness. I found Matt (and Encina bikes) through the power of the internet, and I am glad I did. I was bit wary about spending so much on a bike fit, but I decided to go ahead and do it since I wasn't so comfortable in my bike and I figured I can't put a price tag on my comfort especially since I am looking to put on some more miles. I got a basic fit from the site as I am just a beginner and I thought this was a good place to start. Matt and the guys at Encina are pretty nice; I was a bit intimidated before I came since I am a newb, but they were all pretty nice and that all went away fairly quickly. The bike fit experience was great, and I might even say it was fun. I think it took about an hour and a half, and I learned tons about cycling and certain technical aspects about it. Also, Matt never pushed any products on me, he did make a suggestion that my cranks may be a wee bit off on length, but he said that the excess motion that I am exhibiting might just be due to the fact that I am new at riding and that I should just wait and get more experience under my belt before we do anything else. The saddle was replaced, since the original that came with my back was definitely uncomfortable and the measuring tool for your butt showed that my current saddle was too narrow. I would definitely see Matt again if I purchase another bike. The fit was back in September, I have been very busy with school and work, combined with a sprained ankle in between then to when this review was broken, but I managed to put in about 500 miles in a few weeks. It's very comfortable, and I have no complaints. I highly recommend Matt and any Encina bicycle shop.

My husband and I had our road bikes fitted today with the 3-D technology. What an amazing…read moreexperience! The process was extremely detail oriented and Matt was very patient with us as we asked tons of questions. He was very knowledgeable and gave clear explanations regarding the adjustments he made. The 3-D technology even uncovered an issue I didn't know I had. I feel really good about the results and look forward to getting on the road with this setup . I highly recommended Matt and will definitely use him again - assuming he comes back from Washington.

Lab athletics has been the best thing I've ever done for myself. After a really tough five years…read morewith probably four surgeries and a car accident, these guys have gently lead me to a new place. They modify everything if needed and they're right there with you to make sure you're doing things right and to encourage. I highly recommend this place to anyone of any age. In almost 4 weeks I'm leaner, stronger, and more confident!!! YAY

I have sent my first review posted here to Lab Athletics Facebook page. Only to have it removed…read more They have not contacted me .They just delete my messages. Although I did get a message from them saying I did not win one of their contests. Which I replied to them with " you do have a way to contact me with an explanation ,or apology as to why you were a no show for our scheduled appointment. I have not heard anything back from that e-mail either. BAD BAD way to do business!

Ari is an amazing trainer with clear passion for what he is doing! He always comes to our sessions…read morewith high energy and a plan to help me improve aspects unique to my health and fitness. He makes working out fun and motivating. I saw many differences in my body as well as my habits since I started training with him. I trust him to lead me to success in my well being and you should too!

Jeremy is so supportive & motivating. He genuinely cares about getting each person moving better…read more He is extremely knowledgeable about alignment & fixing muscle imbalances. Also, just one of the nicest most positive people you'll come in contact with.

Travis is an exceptional Thai Massage practitioner. I came to him with long-standing pain and…read moretension that other treatments hadn't fully addressed, and his work made a noticeable difference from the very first session. He has a unique ability to find and release deeply held patterns in the body, while also creating a sense of energetic balance and grounding. His approach is both skillful and intuitive -- not only does he understand the body on a technical level, but he also brings a calm, focused presence that makes each session feel truly restorative. If you're dealing with chronic pain, old injuries, or just need to reset your nervous system, I highly recommend working with Travis.

I had such a great experience at Island Strength Movement! The InBody assessment was incredibly…read moreeye-opening, but what really stood out was Robyn's personalized coaching. She gave me simple, practical changes I can incorporate into everyday life that can make a big impact over time. I left feeling informed, motivated, and empowered to make meaningful changes. Highly recommend Island Strength Movement!

I worked with Lisa for about 6 months and felt supported and challenged every time…read more There were fun (sometimes hilariously so) workouts and a large amount of variation. She also helped with recovery post broken ankle- it was a great option paired with my PT.