Taking the Plunge or Hitting the Road 

For hardy souls and serious outdoor enthusiasts, New Year’s Day in New England offers a multitude of chilly ways to ring in 2020. 
The Winter Road Race season kicks off with 5k’s throughout the region including:
New Year’s Day P’nut Butter Chip Chase 5k Walk or Run in Temple New Hampshire.  Sponsored by the Souhegan Lions, proceeds from this rural run in rolling hills help people with sight and hearing needs, or for local disasters such as fires. The event exudes a warm community feeling, with homemade soups and cookies available for runners and spectators alike. 
The Frosty 5K in Guilford Connecticut includes a certified 5k run, 2 mile Health Walk and Kids Fun Run that take participants through this charming coastal town. The event benefits local community programs including Warm The Children which provides new winter clothing for children in need and the Guildford Rotary Club Memorial Educational Fund.
And ever since 1902 when the The L Street Brownies, a polar bear club based in South Boston, began their annual dip into the icy waters of Dorchester Bay, jumping into the ocean (or lake, river, pond) on January 1 has been a treasured tradition in New England.
Penguin Plunges to support regional Special Olympics groups have been going strong for decades, including the one in Narragansett Rhode Island, which is celebrating 44 years this coming January. Special Olympics RI provides year-round training, competition and healthy activities for athletes, children and adults, with intellectual disabilities. 
On the Cape, the 10th annual to benefit the Friends of Yarmouth Council on Aging will see hundreds jump into Nantucket Sound at Bass/River Smuggler’s Beach at noon on the first day of 2020.
So wherever the first of the year finds you, there are plenty of opportunities for embracing the year with a bracing outdoor event!
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