On I went, out of the wood, passing the man leading without knowing I was going to do so. Flip-flap, flip-flap, jog-trot, jog-trot, curnchslap-crunchslap, across the middle of a broad field again, rhythmically running in my greyhound effortless fashion, knowing I had won the race though it wasn't half over, won it if I wanted it, could go on for ten or fifteen or twenty miles if I had to and drop dead at the finish of it, which would be the same, in the end, as living an honest life like the governor wanted me to. -Alan Sillitoe, "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"

Monday, January 2, 2012

It's a race, dammit



Not a Polyphonic Spree concert.

Me, I'm holding out for the Zombie-color-warrior-mud-chocolate-rock 'n roll-costume party-indoor-relay. Coming in 2013, inevitably. Only $465 to register!

It's a gimmick, people. Here's a better idea: just run the damn race.

(I read about this initially on twitter but then I saw it late last week on Ellen's blog.)
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8 comments:

  1. GeekGirlMon Jan 02, 07:59:00 AM EST

    I don't even understand this. You run a 5k and they throw paint on you? Why?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Silly Girl RunningMon Jan 02, 08:30:00 AM EST

    You said it right: just run the damn race. Gee...I'm not a fan of that video...

    ReplyDelete
  3. EllenMon Jan 02, 09:01:00 AM EST

    How did you know I also like the Polyphonic Spree??

    ReplyDelete
  4. TamaraMon Jan 02, 09:17:00 AM EST

    This is real? I'm all for bringing new runners into the fold, but this feels like a bridge too far.

    (Of course, there is nothing wrong with my plans to run around Disney World in fairy wings and a tiara. That's not the least bit gimmicky.)

    PS: I've registered for Around the Bay. And I'm going to own the course (because few people will be out there for as long as I am and thus will happily give me the course after they go home, shower and have a beer while I'm still out there.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. MikeMon Jan 02, 11:28:00 AM EST

    I don't get it. What is this? A race where they pelt you with paint balls? That might actually be cool.

    ReplyDelete
  6. neeMon Jan 02, 05:42:00 PM EST

    If I run this race, someone is going to make out with me at the end?! I'm there (but is there a half version?)!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. DollyTue Jan 03, 07:14:00 PM EST

    Nice rant. I thought the whole color thing was lame. I have no desire to run a 5k for "fun"

    ReplyDelete
  8. SunnyDThu Jan 05, 01:28:00 AM EST

    This is funny because we were just reading my son's Ask magazine where they talk about the Color Holiday in India that celebrates the end of their winter and the beginning of the warmer days by dousing everyone in color. No one is exempt -- postal people, teachers, etc. You go in the street, you're likely to get covered. Strange how they made it into a marketing point for a race.

    Usually the only color I get on my running clothes are brown from the dirt on the road when it's gross outside... and red, when I fall down in the middle of a trail run because I have no grace or balance. :-)

    Blood, sweat and tears usually do it for me. And trust me, I'm not hardcore.

    ReplyDelete

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