Upward Running Participates in Jingle Bell 5K

12-31-25

Submitted by Ray Mitchell
The organization, Upward Sports, the largest Christian youth sports organization is known in our area for its boys’ and girls’ soccer and basketball programs. However, in May of this year Upward Sports launched a new adult sports program—Upward Running. This new program gives adults the chance to grow spiritually, achieve personal milestones, and build meaningful community through running and walking.
When Ray Mitchell, the senior pastor at South New Milford Baptist Church and Cross-Country Coach for Mountain View High School learned of the Upward Running program, he decided to offer it to people both in the church and community. On Sept. 22, the SNMBC Striders began their Upward Running Program that covered 11 weeks of both individual and group training and weekly runs. The group completed their goal of starting and finishing a 5K by running in the Jingle Bell 5K in Montrose on Dec. 6.
When asked why he thought to begin an Upward Running program locally, Ray Mitchell
said that for him, “To have the health and the strength to run is a gift and something that
God has enabled him to do for the past 30 years.” He has wanted to be able to bring his
passion for running and physical fitness beyond coaching high school athletes to the
community. When he learned of Upward Running and the way that they combine both
physical and spiritual components, he decided to look further into the organization. He
learned that the mission of Upward Running is to “include adults of all ages and fitness
levels, empowering them to run or walk with purpose while strengthening their faith and
building meaningful community.”
Ray Mitchell said that it was a great 11 weeks of training with and seeing the weekly
progress made by each one in this inaugural Upward Running group. The best part was on the day of the Jingle Bell 5K to see each member of SNMBC Striders cross the finish line accomplishing their goal and draping a finishers’ medal around their neck.
Now that the Upward Running program has been introduced to the community, the goal is to begin another group in the Spring of 2026. Adults of any age and fitness level will be welcome to participate. For anyone interested in learning more about Upward Running, you can visit their website Upwardrunning.com. You can also contact Ray Mitchell through his email, pastor.mitchell@snmbc.org.