Swimmers braved the frigid air and water temperatures at the YMCA Saturday. Click image to watch a video and read more on CorneliusNews.net.

Thirty-seven brave people took a dip in Lake Cornelius Saturday, at the YMCA’s inaugural Polar Bear Plunge. The air – and water – temperatures were in the mid-40s. Christina Ritchie Rogers reports, in video and text, on CorneliusNews.net.

Cyclists started at Ingersoll Rand on Beaty Street in Davidson and turned here onto North Main Street. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Updated Sunday, 8 p.m.
About 425 cyclists – young and old, men and women, on road bikes and recumbent bikes – braved freezing temperatures Saturday morning at the 2012 Polar Bear Ride. The annual event is organized by the Rocky River Road Club and includes 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer rides through the countryside of Mecklenburg, Iredell, Rowan and Cabarrus counties.

The ride raised about $5,500 for the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, a regional community services center with free health and dental clinics, a food pantry, an after-school program and other social services.

Both rides started and finished at Ingersoll-Rand, off Beaty Street in Davidson.

“It was perfect weather for it, at this time of year,” said organizer Jim Mead, of the Rocky River Road Club. He said 58 members of the club volunteered for the day, providing support along the route and helping out at the start/finish.

Riders came from as far away as Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia and Texas. They included elite riders tuning up before the start of the racing season in a few weeks, Mr. Mead said.

While most riders enjoyed a nice ride in the countryside Saturday, those elite riders were riding hard. They average 23 mph over the 60 miles, he said.

More information about the ride or the club is at www.RockyRiverRoadClub.org.
GALLERY

See a gallery of photos from the ride by Ron Donson, http://www.donsonphoto.com/

This wasn't the only recumbent bike in the ride. Is that Davidson's Bill Giduz? (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Hot chocolate before the ride. Click image to see a slideshow of Ron's photos. (Ron Donson photo)

Hundreds of cyclists are expected for Lake Norman’s 14th annual Polar Bear Ride on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Davidson. The Rocky River Road Club sponsors the half and full metric century bicycle rides through the North Mecklenburg/Lake Norman area, as a fundraiser for Davidson’s Ada Jenkins Center. Read the full story and find out how to register in HEALTH & FITNESS»

Since 1997, the Counseling Center at Davidson United Methodist Church has occupied a small brick house next to the church on South Main Street in Davidson that once served as the church’s parsonage. But the counseling center reaches far beyond its name and location, according to director John Rowe. Read more in HEALTH & FITNESS»

Erin Cobb (seated, third from left) surrounded by friends at Saturday's Cobb Workout of the Day in Concord. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CONCORD – As Erin Cobb continues her recovery after being shot by her ex-husband at her Davidson home in September, she and her family say her good fitness has been a major advantage. A 28-year-old banker who served a tour with the U.S. Marines in Iraq, Ms. Cobb was a regular practitioner of CrossFit – short, intense group workouts focusing on strength and cardiovascular conditioning.

On Saturday, she saw another benefit of CrossFit: Support from the close-knit community of CrossFitters whose dedication is not just to their training, but to one another. Read the full story

The Summit Twilight 5K race Friday night in Davidson took runners onto the Southeast Greenway lined with luminaria. The runners included Kaela Frank, who ran sporting fake glasses and mustache. The race was part of Movember, a series of events at Summit Coffee in Davidson to raise money and awareness for men's health. See link below for story, results and more photos. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

RELATED LINKS

Nov. 11, 2011, DavidsonNews.net Sports, “Hovuat, Schauder win first Summit Twilight 5K”

Nov. 4, 2011, “Nov. 11 race at Summit could become a regular thing.”

Frank Giancarli knew Davidson would be the perfect place for his new business, Training Ground of Davidson, because of what he saw around him. “People here are so fitness focused,” he said. “The difference between Davidson and other places is you’re always seeing people walking or biking on the street.”

Mr. Giancarli opened the boutique personal fitness center this summer, fulfilling a lifelong dream to open his own fitness business. Read more in HEALTH & FITNESS »

Also on the page today, a report on upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness events sponsored by Davidson College organizations, and info about a Halloween road race in Charlotte. Click the red button to go.

Wednesday, Oct. 5, is International Walk to School Day, and organizers at Davidson Elementary School and Community School of Davidson are getting their schools involved in the annual event.

Also on Health & Fitness, Davidson College is hosting an evening symposium on Oct. 13 about “Integrative Medicine and Healthy Living,” with a trio of local health experts.

Meanwhile, Davidson Parks & Recreation has announced a series of October health and fitness related classes, ranging from Zumba and clogging to healthy eating and martial arts.  Read more in HEALTH & FITNESS»