A Bolivar Tradition That Won’t Melt: 48 Years of the Polar Bear Run
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For nearly half a century, runners in Bolivar and throughout southwest Missouri have embraced winter, laced up their shoes and answered the call of the Polar Bear Run.
Now celebrating its 48th annual running, this longtime Bolivar tradition has earned a special place in the region's running history—and stands as one of the longest-running continuous road races in the area.
Why Your GPS Watch and Official Race Time Don’t Always Match
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You cross the finish line, stop your watch and immediately look down. 
Your GPS says 3.17 miles.
But you just ran a certified 5K. Shouldn’t it say 3.10 or 3.11 miles?
Or maybe your watch shows a finish time of 27:42, while the official race results list your time as 27:39.
So which one is correct?
In most cases, both your GPS watch and the official race timing system are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. They’re simply measuring different things in different ways.
Understanding why can save you some confusion after your next 5K, 10K, half marathon or marathon.
You Know You’re a Runner When… These Things Seem Totally Normal
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Runners have a slightly different definition of “normal.”
Wake up before sunrise on a Saturday to run 10 miles?
Normal.
Pay money to run up hills?
Normal.
Plan an entire vacation around a race?
Also normal.
Spend 20 minutes discussing socks with another adult?
Completely reasonable.
If you've been running long enough, you probably don't even notice some of the strange habits you've developed. But to your non-running friends and family, some of the things runners regularly do make absolutely no sense.
Here are a few things that seem completely normal to runners—and slightly crazy to everyone else.
5 Races Worth the Drive in Southwest Missouri This Fall
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Sometimes the best races aren't right around the corner.
One of the great things about running in Southwest Missouri is the number of unique events waiting just a short drive away. From small-town festivals and farm trails to Thanksgiving morning at Branson Landing, getting outside Springfield can turn an ordinary race morning into an entire experience.
If you're looking for your next starting line, here are five races on the ActNowRacing calendar worth putting some miles on the car for this fall.