This blog returns once more to my third 5K race of the year, this one in a historic area of Jacksonville. Named the Festival of Lights, this fun event sees neighborhood streets lined with lamplights and candles along the edges, and some runners don festive outfits.

With a cannon setting us off on our way, we wound through streets at sunset, admiring great houses lit up with Christmas lights. We even came upon a road right along the St. Johns River where the sky was this perfect purple and pink.

By the time I finished (in my best time of the year, as well), it was dark outside, and every light could be seen in the square where the finish line stood. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a race, and I was thoroughly entertained throughout the run, as well, for a rather good runner put on an inflatable pig suit and managed to finish a decent run in a respectable time, given he went the whole way in that suit.

My family came to cheer me on, with my dad yelling, “Catch the pig!” I almost caught the guy in the end; and, I would argue, if I had another mile in the race, I would have passed him. Runners were wearing everything from Santa outfits to elf costumes, and it was a great way to see people come together in one race.

Afterward, my family and I decided to head to Chick-fil-A for a quick but much-needed bite of chicken nuggets, milkshakes and fries.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor