Walk, run, get some sun at Florida "Loser" event

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Getting healthy in a sunny warm place is never a bad idea, nor is planning ahead for it. On Dec. 30, "The Biggest Loser Half Marathon and 5K RunWalk" will be held in Panama City Beach, Florida. The destination has partnered with Dan and Jackie Evans - season give contestants on NBC's hit show, "The Biggest Loser" - to offer the event as a non-intimidating place for all participants, with longer course time limits to allow walkers to finish at their own pace. The event is licensed through NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group and Shine America.

If you stick around for the holiday, you can join in Panama City Beach's Fifth Annual Ball Drop on New Year's Eve, a new tradition that happens in the 1.1-million-square-foot outdoor lifestyle center, Pier Park, when an 800-pound glowing beach ball drops to mark the new year. Earlier in the evening, a family ball drop is held, when 10,000 beach balls drop from the sky and a fireworks display then lights it up.

Dan and Jackie Evans are a mother-son team featured on season five of NBC?s hit reality show, where they lost a combined 225 pounds. Since then, they've kept their weight off, eating and working out, to the point of completing more than 20 half marathons in 2011 alone. For information on them, and the event, check out www.BiggestLoser.com/RunWalk And for info on Panama City Beach, including where to stay, visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.