Team USA Minn. Returns to Reindeer Run

In one of the Minnesota running scene's Christmas traditions, a large group of Team USA Minnesota athletes will once again celebrate the holiday season by participating in the 23rd annual Life Time Fitness Reindeer Run 5K this Saturday.

The fun run starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Harriet bandshell in southwest Minneapolis. Team USA Minnesota athletes have appeared at the Reindeer Run in each of the last nine years.

Joining in the festivities along with more than 3,000 people of all ages will be:

Emily Brown - 2009 USA Cross Country Champion and three-time qualifier for World Cross Country Championships;

Michelle Frey - winner of the 2010 City of Lakes 25K and a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier;

Meghan Armstrong - fourth place finisher at both the 2010 USA Women's 10 Mile and 5K Championships;

Kristen Nicolini - third place finisher at the 2009 USA Women's Marathon Championships with a debut time of 2:35;

Josh Moen - winner of the 2010 City of Lakes 25K; runner-up at the 2009 USA Men's 10 Mile Championship with the fifth fastest time ever in the U.S.;

Chris Rombough - a six-time All-American in cross country and track at the University of Minnesota;

Gabriele Anderson - new member of Team USA Minnesota, second place finisher at the 2010 NCAA 1500-meter championship and ran personal best of 4:31.05 at the 2010 Fifth Avenue Mile.

The Reindeer Run supports the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves "Toys for Tots" program with participants asked to bring a contribution of an unwrapped toy. In addition to the 5K at 9:30 a.m., a Kids 1K Run will be held at 9:10 a.m. Official results are not kept for the Reindeer Run as the event is a fun run.

Armstrong's Ekiden Squad Fifth ... The Team USA squad racing at the Chiba International Ekiden in Japan last week finished fifth in the twelve team, six leg, co-ed, marathon distance relay.

Team USA Minnesota's Meghan Armstrong anchored the squad running the 7.195K final leg in 24:46, which brought the team home in 2:10:54.

The Japan Collegiate team won the event in 2:07:52 in an upset over Kenya (2:08:06) and the Japanese national team (2:08:12).

Find in-depth coverage of the event HERE.