2003-09-20 - Blubber run
As if getting out and running wasn't hard enough these days. I elected to
go and do a 5k race. Five kilometers is about 3.1 miles for those of you who
find yourselves conversion inept. Now you could say to yourself that this was
no big deal, that 5k is a breeze. The differences to this run were about as
extreem as I had ever applied to a race that I have registered for.
First, of all it was called the 'Blubber Run'. Fitting for some of the people
that I observed attending (include yours truely). Though the majority of the
folks there were low on body fat. I thought about offering some of mine in order
to even things out - if only it were that easy. The Blubber Run is sponsered by
James Page Beer and this year was the
12th annual.
Second, I guess it is a sort of ritual to dress up in costume and attend. By the
looks of it, perhaps it was a requirement. There were so many people in costumes.
I cannot even begin to count. There were women in wedding dresses - so you CAN
wear them more than once! There were peanuts, legos, wreslters, tennis players,
dorothy, scarecrow, and the tin man (don't forget toto!) Like I said there
were just tons of costumes. I was able to get some pictures of them. They are
off of a disposable camera, so as soon as I get the film developed I'll post the
pictures here.
Third, about a mile and a quarter into the run there was a beer stop. You could
stop running for a while and sip on two dixie cups of James Page Beer. Yum.
Then, burp, and continue to run. On the second lap, I passed some folks that had
on prom dresses and a guy trying to run with his weener dog - poor thing.
My time was 34:40. This included the 5 minute (or so) stop for two dixie cups.
Afterwards, I sat in Peavy Plaza (near Orchestra Hall) and listened to some
music, drank two beers and ate a subway sandwich - all included in the entry fee.
What a deal! The best parts of the run were
- The time - it started at 10:00. No getting up at the ass crack of dawn.
- The company - it so much easier to run with someone else. You can chat and
feel the pain togeher. What a bonding experience.
- The weather - it was about 75 and sunny. Little breeze. Perfect running
weather. I couldn't have planned it better if I had a chat with the big guy himself.
- The humor - the people with costumes on made for some good wholesome laughter.
Yes, I'm laughing WITH you, not AT you.
I would recommend signing up for next years event. And perhaps the next time your
at the bar, you'll have a mug of James Page Beer in honor of the sweat (and beer
fart) and I exerted in the name of a cardiovascular workout!
Okay here are the images that you've been waiting for. You can click on the image
to see the larger one.
 |
Here i a picture of Jessican and I after our run. Notice that I'm the sweaty one and she looks calm and relaxed. |
 |
This is a picture of a girl dressed up as an angel (I almost typed angle) and her dog was costumed up as a devil. |
 |
A little over a mile into the run, we stopped for two dixie cups of James Page beer. Quite refreshing, but wet the whistle for the end of the run. |
 |
Quick picture before the run. As you can see the anticipation of us crossing the finish line at the front of the pack was the first thing on our mind. |
 |
Look at that crowd! As far as the eye could see. This was a quick step-up, and shoot the picture. Mildly surprised that it turned out. There were over 3000 people in the run, great turnout. |
 |
Picutre of peanut and wedding dress costumed women cutting a rug in front of everybody. |
 |
These two guys played tennis for a while. Quite entertaining. |
 |
I thought that this was the best costume. The dog was dressed up like grandma, but had the colorings of a wolf - very believable. Must have been hell to run in a skirt. |
 |
Jessica must have shot a quick picture of the start of the race - I must have been too tired already to notice as I don't remember this picture. |
 |
Thought I thought that the best costume was the little red ridding hood. These were probably the most creative. I found out later that they were "'nuts' for James Page beer". They probably thought that it would earn them a trophy throught the name. |
 |
Keeping it 'clean'. The small legos make me laugh. I hope they didn't have to try to keep together throughout the whole race. |
 |
Picture of the stage and the other costumes. Pretty good shot of the two guys who where one lego. Wow, that would have been tought to run in! |
 |
Another picture of the stage. |
 |
There are two girls in sumo suits. I asked them and they said that they had little fans in there to blow up the suits. Other wise they probably would have overheated and died! Well maybe not died... |
 |
This costume was awesom - the grinch and his dog! |
|
|
|
|
