16 Healthy Things to Do In and Around Boston This Week

Ruck March. / Photo provided

Tuesday, Nov. 14

Self-Defense and Awareness Seminar: Get educated in basic martial arts training. Body Mind Systems will offer a free one-hour seminar in easy self-defense techniques and situational awareness. Beginners are welcome.

Free, 7 p.m., Body Mind Systems Martial Arts Center, 1739 Centre St., West Roxbury, eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 15

Wheat Breeding, Eugenics, and White Bread: Are you getting your grains in? Stephen Jones, who runs the Washington State University Bread Lab, will give a lecture on the culture and science of wheat breeding as part of Tufts University’s Friedman Seminar Series.

Free, 12:15 p.m., Behrakis Auditorium at Tufts University, 150 Harrison Ave., Boston, tufts.edu.

Dance and Empathy: Harvard teaching fellow Ilya Vidrin will give a free talk on the physical aspects of human interaction. In his research, Vidrin works with wearable biofeedback technology to study connection within dance partnering. One day, that data may inform non-dancers on what constitutes healthy physical interactions.

Free, 6 p.m., Le Laboratoire Cambridge, 650 East Kendall St., Cambridge, eventbrite.com.

Precision Medicine: Precision Health: What if you could never get sick? It’s an appealing idea in the middle of flu season—and it’s the grandest vision of today’s scientists and technology companies. Join neuroscience, genetics, and psychology researchers for a discussion on the future of health.

Free, 7 p.m., Museum of Science Cahners Theater, 1 Science Park, Cambridge, mos.org.

Friday, Nov. 17

Global Arts, Eats, & Beats: Join Cambridge Innovation Center Boston to celebrate Latin American creativity. Warm up with traditionally-made cacao while you engage with Mayan and Colombian art, then learn to salsa to live music.

Free, 4 p.m., CIC Boston, 50 Milk St., Boston, cic.com.

Saturday, Nov. 18

Carry the Fallen Ruck March: Hike the Boston Marathon route to end veteran suicide. All registered participants get a fundraising page for nonprofit organization Active Heroes. Hikers carry weight as they walk to symbolize the emotional burden veterans carry.

Free-$75, 6 a.m., Boston Marathon Start Line, E. Main St., Hopkinton, activeheroes.org.

Winners of the 2016 “Longest Receipt” award at Cranksgiving. / Photo provided

Cranksgiving: Hop on your bicycle for a scavenger hunt food drive. You’ll bike around the city and through local grocery stores searching for food items, which will be donated to the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Rosie’s Place, and the MSPCA’s Catsgiving Food Drive. The event is free, but you’ll need about $15 to buy groceries.

$15 suggested donation, 1 p.m. Christopher Columbus Park, 200 Atlantic Ave., Boston, facebook.com.

Dark Horse Bouldering Series – Round 2: Climb to the top. MetroRock will host the second round of the Dark Horse Bouldering competition, where climbers of all ages can compete at the indoor gym. All competitors receive a complimentary ticket to the finals round show, including refreshments.

$45+, 9 a.m., MetroRock Climbing Centers, 69 Norman St., Everett, darkhorseseries.com.

Alex Assesano, MetroRock member, took home 3rd place in the final rounds in Round 1 of Dark Horse Series 9 in October. / Photo via Rachel Sotak provided

Boston’s Biggest Disco: Burn, baby, burn. Don your best ’70s gear and join over 1,000 dancers at the Royale. Dance the night away, bid in a live auction, and meet local celebrities, all to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

$59+, Royale Nightclub, 279 Tremont St., Boston, facebook.com.

So You Wanna Be a Baller? Ball Rolling Workshop: Learn the massage technique from yoga instructor David Vendetti, along with athletes, yogis, and “anatomy geeks.” Over the course of two days, learn about rolling, endangerment sites, and anatomy basics through five ball-rolling classes and discussions. The workshop is limited to 30 people, so act fast.

$375+, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, South Boston Yoga, 36 West Broadway St., Boston, facebook.com.

Sunday, Nov. 19

Nasty Cooperative HTHC Benefit Yoga Class: Pose for a purpose. The Nasty Cooperative will host a yoga class in a private home in Jamaica Plain. All proceeds will go to the Hands to Heart Center’s yoga program, which brings healing to people affected by addiction, poverty, and trauma.

$10 suggested donation, 2 p.m., Jamaica Plain, Boston, facebook.com.

Our Original Playground: Full-Day Wilderness Mindful Retreat: Need to get away from it all? This one-day outdoor retreat is designed to restore “childlike wonder” and your relationship with nature. Boston-based Shastri Nicholas Kranz will lead meditation practice and awareness techniques.

$25+, 9 a.m., Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, facebook.com.

Cambridge Half Marathon. / Photo by Alan Scherer provided

Cambridge Half Marathon: This one’s for the runners, whether you’re training for the big one in April or just looking to log another 13.1 miles. The course starts at CambridgeSide Galleria, winds westward through MIT and Harvard, then turns at Watertown back toward the city. Finish with a scenic route along the Charles River to the finish line in Canal Park.

$100, 7:30 a.m., CambridgeSide Galleria, 100 CambridgeSide Pl., Cambridge, cambridgehalf.com.

Pre-Vigil Bike Ride: World Day of Remembrance: Join the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition for a memorial bike ride in honor of cyclists who have been injured or killed in road crashes. The route will start at Copley Square and end near the Boston Common.

Free, noon, Copley Square, 560 Boylston St., Boston, facebook.com.

America’s Hometown 5K: This November, take it back to where it all began. Plymouth will host its 10th annual Hometown 5K for runners of all ages. A pancake breakfast and full pint of Mayflower Brewing Company beer are included with registration.

$15+, 10 a.m., 6 Town Wharf, Plymouth, facebook.com.

Safe Passage Boston Esperanza 5K: Run for public education. Join a walk, fun run, or timed race on the banks of the Charles River. Safe Passage aims to raise $25,000 for public education in Guatemala, with all race proceeds sponsoring high school students.

$5-20, 9 a.m., Artesani Park, 1255 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, firstgiving.com.