Holidays and special events are a great excuse to do something out of the ordinary. Plus, it is extra fun when an activity becomes an annual tradition. Please check back as we build out our calendar of fun.

November

Thanksgiving   4th Thursday

• Thanksgiving Memory Game: Establish an order (such as oldest to youngest). First person says, "For Thanksgiving, I had [name Thanksgiving food, for example, turkey], so I'll do 10 [name exercise, for example, sit ups] to work it off." Next person says, "For Thanksgiving I had turkey and [name new food] so I'll do 10 sit ups and 10 [name new exercise] to work it off." Keep adding on one new food and one new exercise until everyone has had a turn. Repeat if in a small group.

• "I'm Thankful For..." Dice Game: Print PDF, Each person keeps taking a turn rolling one die and answering what they are thankful for! They also get to choose an exercise and number of repetitions. This game works well on a long, loop run preferable where there are beautiful autumn views. If you roll: (1) describe a PLACE you're thankful for; (2) describe a FOOD you're thankful for; (3) describe a THING you're thankful for; (4) describe a QUOTE you're thankful for; (5) describe a MEMORY you're thankful for; (6) describe a PERSON you're thankful for.

• Leftover Food Pyramid: For the first workout after the Thanksgiving holiday, utilize the Thanksgiving foods and exercises from the Thanksgiving Memory Game (see above). Divide into teams for a race. If you had 12 foods & corresponding exercises, designate 12 locations (such as trees or poles in a row, soccer field corners, etc). Eliminate one food and corresponding exercise from the list at each location. So at first location, do all 12. Next location, eliminate (for example the apple pie & atomics) and do the remaining 11 foods & exercises. Next, eliminate the apple pie & atomics and acorn squash & alternating knee crunches. At the last location, it'll just be one food & exercise. Maybe do 10 of each (but adjust if an exercise is extra difficult). It is a challenging race and also a great mental exercise. Being in teams helps with remembering as well as one teammate might do 8 reps and the other 12 per exercise to move the team along together.

December

Christmas   25th

• Twelve Days of Christmas: Print PDF, cut into 12 squares, shuffle and distribute all 12 squares randomly to group formed in a circle. Sing it to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Cardholders should keep their cards a secret, then announce & lead exercise on card when it is their turn. Stay in same place in the circle for the whole song. Afterwards, let members guess the acronym for the 12 cards.

• Tacky Light Tour: Research and map a route with the locations of houses known for their holiday decorations (go when it is darker). For fun, give everyone a large jingle bell on a string to wear around their neck, possibly as a gift, for the team to jingle all the way!

• Yuletide Cheer: Incorporate into a long run, HOHOHO (choose six locations and alternate marvin Hagglers and Open/close at each location); HEHEHE (choose three locations and do Hip thrusters and back Extensions both at each location); HAHAHA  (choose three locations and do Half sit-ups and Alternating-knee sit-ups both at each location). Consider adding a holiday Word Guess acronym along the way, such as HOLLY: marvin Hagglers, Oblique sit-ups, Leg levers, Lateral lunges, and Y’d grip push-ups.

• Share New Toys: After Christmas, invite teammates to bring something to share that they received for Christmas, and make up & lead an evolution with it!