The Santa Run

First of all…Happy December! Last week we made our advent calendar Really, it is a construction paper chain with something Christmasy to do every day in December until Christmas.

December 1st:

“Santa Run & Light Up Downtown”

This is an event that I have been really looking forward to. I have wanted to do this race for a couple of years now, but it hasn’t worked out for one reason or another. This year, I was able to do it, but there were a few…less than ideal parts about it.

First, I was doing the race ALONE. 🙁
Me in my Santa Suit (More on that later)

Yes, me by myself. Karl wasn’t interested. Krysta is out of state, and Betsy was bummed it was a little too pricey. Yes, that part is true. I paid $30, and I have been registered for MONTHS. The price has steadily been increasing since then, so yes that is on the very HIGH end of what I like to spend on a 5k, it was totally worth it for me. I was stoked to get the chance to run in a pack of Christmas Santa loving folks, and to dress up for a 5k (for the first time).

Second, I am sick. I have had a pretty bad cold/ cough for the past few days. Running with a deep chest cough is rough.

Third, when we picked up the Santa Suit, it was made of single layer felt, sewn together, with a single stick of the cheapest red thread on the planet. I had a hole in the crotch of those pants before I got to the race!

Four and Finally we were giving my little sister a ride (to her house and not to the race I found out on the drive) and so I got quickly dropped off, and spent over half my time in the race totally alone, not knowing anyone there.

But enough complaining. I really liked the race. The crowd was advertised to be huge, but it really wasn’t. It was actually quite small compared to most of the races I run. Still, it was quite impressive seeing all those Santas together.

Karl took the pictures of the race. He did finally make it. He dropped me off before the race started, and couldn’t get back over forever because the race started while he was dropping off Chelsea. He and Mirah made it. And found me!

It’s like where’s Waldo! Can you find me?
Luckily at this point the car was really close, beacase I had to run to it and put some shorts on becasue the seame of my pants was completely gone and I was really worried that I was out there for all to see!
A quick change!

Oh, a note on the beard. It was to itchy, and hot to wear while running!
Mirah and Karl were bundled and ready waiting for me to finish up.

The community in the area really came out. There were kids holding out their hands for you to high five as you ran past, and there were people cheering and videoing all over the place.

One other small issue, at the “water stations” they served water (which ran out after the first of three laps) along with cookies and milk. :/ I don’t know about you, but I woud rather die than drink creamy milk in the middle of the run.

Well I made it!

Waiting at the end.

Instead of the glass of water I was dying for, I had hot chocolate and a cookie. Whateves.
I got my little Mirah and got some snuggles.

We wondered onto Center St. and the festivities for the lighting of the city center were underway. This girl, was singing super sexy versions of weird jazz Christmas songs…we had almost an hour to kill so we decided to take it down to Rice King for some mediocre Chinese food, that I just love. Also, at about this point Nitsy and the Boys along with Megan Carter and Baby Jack joined us.

We had dinner, and chatted, and had a really great time right up to when the lights were supposed to turn on.
Mirah and Karl were just so excited.

Then they started with this story, and the Mayor, and the grinch…

Everyone was going crazy, for 20+ minutes, just standing out there int he cold!
Nitsy and the Boys!

Megan, Jack and Carter.

The lights finally came on!
The boys loved it!

It was a little underwhelming, but still really fun.
I ended up having to put my Santa jacket back on because it was the only thing I had to protect me from the cold.