Jerry and Elaine Dunn and Christine Davis want to start 2008 off by doing something for others. As representatives of Lean Horse Productions, Leading Ladies Enterprises and the Arthritis Foundation, respectively, they want all people to make a commitment to be more active throughout the year.

To help people launch their fitness resolutions, they have organized the second annual This Is My Year, a New Year's Day event that includes an outdoor 5K run/walk, an indoor mile run and a variety of other walks, runs and events.

Like many runners, Jerry Dunn, 61, organizer of the Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon and Lean Horse Hundred and Half-Hundred ultra-marathon, likes to start the year off with a run. But he and his wife wanted those who always make that New Year's resolution for better health, wellness and well-being but never quite make it outdoors to have an opportunity to succeed.

"Last year, my wife and I decided to create a New Year's run. We got it together to encourage people to start the year out right," Dunn said.

Last year, 25 people showed up in 12-degree weather for the inaugural event to do the 5K run and walk at Lyle Hare Stadium on the Black Hills State University campus.

This year, organizers expanded events into the indoor track and fitness center to successfully motivate as many people as possible to begin a daily movement regime.

Easing beginners into that new routine requires some basic creature comforts, Dunn said.

"They're not going to come out on a 12-degree day to start a daily walking regime. They need to come to a nice, warm place to start a program for themselves," Dunn said.

For those on the verge of starting a new exercise program, a majority of activities will happen indoors, which will include opportunities other than running and walking, he said.

"We will have other options," Dunn said.

Davis, event organizer and community development coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter, said the idea of This Is My Year is to get community members out walking and running on New Year's Day and to make a commitment to become more active in 2008.

In that time, Davis and the Dunns want to coach area participants from being couch potatoes to regular walkers, runners or swimmers.

"We want people to be more conscious of movement as being part of their lives," she said. "It isn't X number of miles or training for an endurance event. You're doing something to keep moving and making daily activities easier and more enjoyable."

She also had contacted area fitness centers in Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Sturgis and Lead-Deadwood to provide information about local fitness classes being taught at those centers starting this month.

"We want people to make a commitment for 90 days to find something that motivates them, whether it's yoga, Pilates, running, biking, swimming, golfing or walking," she said.

The more people who participate, the more it will benefit the arthritis foundation, which provides six-week self-help programs specifically for people with arthritis and related conditions. Last year's event raised about $400 for the foundation.

Currently, about 70 million Americans have arthritis or chronic joint pain. There are 1.5 million people living with arthritis in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. About 300,000 children have some form of juvenile arthritis nationwide, 6,000 in the North Central Chapter. Arthritis and related diseases cost the U.S. economy $82.6 billion each year in medical care and lost wages.

With events like This Is My Year, it will not only help Davis' organization meet its mission goals, but teach people how to prevent and relieve the pain of arthritis. It also will provide an opportunity to walk, ride or run each day, going farther and longer as one becomes more and more physically fit.

"It's a real physical and emotional boost; just try it for two weeks and find out," Davis said. "If you want the motivation, we'll help."

Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.

If you go

What: The second annual This Is My Year New Year's Walk and Run

When: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1; registration from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Fee: $20; proceeds will benefit Black Hills State University track and cross country programs and the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter

Where: Donald E. Young Sports & Fitness Center at BHSU, Spearfish

Contact: Chris Davis at 642-3252 or cldavis@arthritis.org; Jerry Dunn at leanhorse@rushmore.com.

The one-mile race begins promptly at 10 a.m. on the indoor track in the fitness center. Outdoor 5K run/walk participants will meet at BHSU's Lyle Hare Stadium. Indoor walking and running distances range from a half mile to three miles. Hot and healthful refreshments will be available.