In an effort to try to knock off some of those holiday season lbs that seem to cling to my midsection every year around this time, I ran the Troutman Sanders Renegade Santa 10k last weekend. I had run it last year, when it reeked less of corporate America and was called the "Make Room for Santa 10k," and thought it might be nice to try to beat my time from a year ago.
As an aside: I hate 10ks - always have, always will. They're the hardest race out there, if you ask me. Yeah, you're not running as fast as a 5k, but a 5k is over in a little over 20 minutes (someday, it will be over in 19 minutes and 59 seconds for me...someday...). Yeah, it's not as long as a half-marathon and is really only a warm-up run compared to a marathon, but you're not running nearly as fast in a half or full marathon. You never hit the red line the way you do in a 5k or 10k. And certainly not for 40+ minutes. No, a 10k is probably the worst race out there. You're running at a really uncomfortable pace for just long enough that when you finally hit the finish line, you're not sure which will collapse first: your legs or your lungs. I dread 10ks and very rarely include them in my - admittedly meager - race docket.
The Santa 10k sounds awesome on paper. Cost isn't too bad: $25 for early registration, $35 for procrastinators like me. (A better deal than, say, Nike's scam of charging you $40 to run a 10k ON YOUR OWN...!!!!) The course is about as flat as they come, and it's all run on either paved or dirt bike trail with no cars around. And the organizers make it festive and give prizes for best Santa costume, etc.
I enjoyed this race when I first ran it in December 2011. The problem is: so did everybody else. And they told their friends. The race was probably at least double the size it was last year. I think I heard them say 1400 people this year, compared to 600 last year.
Overall, it's an enjoyable race and not a surprise why it's so popular. The organizers make themselves visible, everyone is really nice and in the holiday spirit, and they actually have a pretty decent amount of vendors on hand with cool giveaways. Oh, and I LOVE the Santa's finisher medal / ornament. Those hang on my Christmas tree; smart marketing idea :) And a BJ's gift card to age group winners is really nice; thank you!
However, there are some things they really need to work on for next year, or they'll go on Santa's Naughty list (sorry, couldn't resist...):
- PLEASE start the 5k race half an hour before the 10k. A significant portion of the 5k racers are just out there for a fun walk or easy jog -- which is fine except that means they are clogging up the narrow bike trail for miles 4-6 while faster 10k runners are trying to race. We were dodging strollers, people walking 3 abreast, and little kids during the second half of the race, which is not only highly annoying but also highly tiring and potentially dangerous. Starting the 5k 30 minutes prior would get the majority of 5k participants off the course before the 10k racers would catch them. And since the race is held in December, considering how cold it was at the start, I don't think too many people will be complaining about a later race start.
- PLEASE allow additional entry in the start corrals. If you are running a 7 minute pace, for instance, you have to walk all the way down to the end and then try to fight your way through a mass of slower runners to get up to the front. It would be really helpful to just have a few more access points on the sides to let people get in and out more easily.
- For the love of God, turn down the volume on the speakers or move them farther away from the start line. Once you get into the start corral area, as I mentioned above, you pretty much can't get out because there aren't any access points on the side, and you're trapped standing next to speakers blaring the announcer's voice at deafening volumes. I think my eardrums were pretty close to bleeding, it was so loud.
- Any chance we could get either a long-sleeved shirt like in 2011 or a technical shirt if short-sleeved? I have more short-sleeved cotton shirts than I know what to do with. 2011's long-sleever is still one of my favorites.
- Please have water bottles available at the end, instead of small cups with a sip of water in them. I just ran 6 miles hard; it'd be nice to only have to walk over to the water booth once instead of having to keep going back just to quench my thirst. It would also save on the number of volunteers needed to man the water booth.
- The awards ceremony was by far the longest I've ever been to. I think it took at least 45 minutes to get through the 5k awards. Then there was the costume contest. And then finally the 10k awards. I wasn't the only 10k participant asking if there was any chance I could just pick up my award at the table instead of having to stick around and wait for my age group. I'm not sure why it took so long, but it was pretty painful....
Complaints aside, it's an enjoyable race. I ran a personal best time in the 10k and had a good time doing it. See you guys next year - hopefully half an hour later...
Friday, December 21, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Open Letter to the Vampire Diaries Writers
Dear Writers of The Vampire Diaries,
I know chances are next to nothing that you'll ever read this, but on behalf of all viewers, I wanted to beg you to please give us less Elena angsty martyrdom scenes and much more Klaus badassery like this week's "O Come All Ye Faithful" episode. HOLY EFFING KLAUS!!!! In between the snoozefest of Jeremy therapy sessions -- though it was nice to hear someone finally say something negative about Elena -- and the tedium of Elena's seemingly endless "do-I-really-love-him-or-is-it-just-a-sire-bond" conversations with Damon were sandwiched the BEST scenes TVD has had, ever.
Namely, all of the Klaus scenes. He is by far the most interesting character on the show and one of the most interesting on TV. I could have watched an entire hour of him kicking major hybrid ass, painting post-modern snowflakes, flirting with Caroline, eloquently articulating the loneliness of immortality to Stefan, or killing Mrs. Lockwood in a beautifully tragic scene.
Also, please let Caroline continue to realize Tyler is a giant alpha-wannabe douchehole and that she really loves Klaus. This week;s episode was a step in the right direction when she first admitted to feeling bad about plotting to bring him down, and an even bigger positive step when she and Stefan realized the Mystic Falls gang ain't exactly a bunch of saints, either.
And more Jeremy chopping wood scenes, please.
Thanks.
Kind Regards,
Red-Blooded American Females everywhere
PS. Please give Joseph Morgan a raise. I normally take this show for the cheesy soapfest that it is and don't get too emotionally involved other than to laugh at its ridiculousness, but I actually wanted to cry over the expression on Klaus' face after he killed his hybrids. REALLY well acted.
I know chances are next to nothing that you'll ever read this, but on behalf of all viewers, I wanted to beg you to please give us less Elena angsty martyrdom scenes and much more Klaus badassery like this week's "O Come All Ye Faithful" episode. HOLY EFFING KLAUS!!!! In between the snoozefest of Jeremy therapy sessions -- though it was nice to hear someone finally say something negative about Elena -- and the tedium of Elena's seemingly endless "do-I-really-love-him-or-is-it-just-a-sire-bond" conversations with Damon were sandwiched the BEST scenes TVD has had, ever.
Namely, all of the Klaus scenes. He is by far the most interesting character on the show and one of the most interesting on TV. I could have watched an entire hour of him kicking major hybrid ass, painting post-modern snowflakes, flirting with Caroline, eloquently articulating the loneliness of immortality to Stefan, or killing Mrs. Lockwood in a beautifully tragic scene.
Also, please let Caroline continue to realize Tyler is a giant alpha-wannabe douchehole and that she really loves Klaus. This week;s episode was a step in the right direction when she first admitted to feeling bad about plotting to bring him down, and an even bigger positive step when she and Stefan realized the Mystic Falls gang ain't exactly a bunch of saints, either.
And more Jeremy chopping wood scenes, please.
Thanks.
Kind Regards,
Red-Blooded American Females everywhere
PS. Please give Joseph Morgan a raise. I normally take this show for the cheesy soapfest that it is and don't get too emotionally involved other than to laugh at its ridiculousness, but I actually wanted to cry over the expression on Klaus' face after he killed his hybrids. REALLY well acted.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
My Brother's Keeper winners and losers: S*** gets real on The Vampire Diaries
Yes, I am 32 years old and religiously watch The Vampire Diaries, a show on The CW aimed at girls about half my age. And I think any red-blooded American female who has seen the male cast of TVD can understand why. It's essentially a soap opera featuring a ton of ridiculously good-looking actors with some action and mythology thrown in occasionally to keep moving the plot forward, and I EFFING LOVE IT! It's best watched with a glass of wine (hell, who am I kidding - a bottle of wine...) while clad in pajamas with any male significant others in the household safely in another room or, preferably, not home at all.
2) Klaus' dimples. They were in abundance and melting hearts across America. Effing. Klaus. GIGGLING!!!!! IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT, YOU GUYS!
3) Klaroline (for those of us over age 25, that means Klaus + Caroline in a relationship). This is closely related to Klaus' dimples, and almost as cute. I could have watched an entire hour of these two. I was expecting their date to be full of Caroline rejecting him but the two of them had adorable banter and what seemed to be a genuinely good time. I was a little disappointed that we were teased with this promo pic of them almost kissing but sadly it was nowhere to be found in this episode:
4) Klaus. Along with #2 and #3 above, this guy had a pretty fantastic episode. We got to see all sides of him: threatening, murderous Klaus when he surprises Stefan in the woods; shy, puppy-dog eyes Klaus when asking Caroline out; classy, gentleman Klaus when he gently tells Caroline she's making a scene and when he brings a bottle of champagne and two glasses and when he seems genuinely sad for Caroline when Tyler and Slutbag show up at the pageant together; fun Klaus when he teases her about her MMF application; and profound, poetic 1,000 year old Klaus when he tells the hummingbird story. I love me some JoMo and he didn't disappoint this episode.
5) Jeremy. He finally went from being that annoying kid brother to being a somewhat interesting character. Now if only he'd kill Elena
The LOSERS:
1) The wrinkle between Paul Wesley's eyes. I don't think we saw him with anything other than deeply furrowed eyebrows and you know that isn't going to make for a smooth forehead in the future. Homeboy needs some Botox, stat.
2) Delena fans. The scene where Elena tells Damon she broke up with Stefan because of him was awesome(!) but the sex scene was ruined by Caroline blabbing about the sire bond. If the writers pull that kind of crap on any future Klaroline scenes, I WILL show up at Julie Plec's house with a pitchfork and a strongly worded letter.
3) Matt. Poor guy had to hang out with April for most of the episode.
4) Prof Shane. All this hanging out with teenagers and plying them with underage alcoholic beverages really just makes him seem like some sort of pedophile.
Normally the girl looks fantastic, but someone lied to her about that dress. It looked drab and ill-fitting, especially next to the gorgeous dress Elena wore. Oh, and I'm not sure why the reigning Miss Mystic Falls, who curls her hair in EVERY episode, decided to go straight and boring with her hairdo this time around, especially when she knew a hottie like Klaus would be her date...
Last week's episode might just be the best yet. I am an unabashed fan of the villain, Klaus, who is played by probably the only talented actor on the show, Joseph Morgan (I believe his legions of 14 year old fans refer to him as "JoMo"). I probably would be a fan of Klaus no matter who played him because he's an Original Vampire, which automatically makes him about 8,000,000,000 times more interesting than the other 17 year old teen angst vampires and humans on the show. He often has some of the best lines on the show and is basically a BAMF yet with a more complex softer side that the show keeps gradually fleshing out. However, it certainly does not hurt that someone this gorgeous with an unbelievably sexy British accent (complete with a hint of a lisp that just adds to the charm) plays Klaus:
So, as a ginormous Klaus fan, I have to say I was pretty ecstatic about last week's Vampire Diaries, 4x07, My Brother's Keeper. Since there are close to an infinite number of recaps, synopses, and pithy summaries out there that are far better than a JoMo-phile like myself can ever hope to achieve here, I'm going to skip summarizing, and - pretty much solely for my own cathartic benefit - highlight the winners and losers in 11/29's episode.
The WINNERS:
1) Bonnie. She was nowhere to be found, which means I didn't have to waste any time hating her. Off-screen Bonnie is a good Bonnie.
1) Bonnie. She was nowhere to be found, which means I didn't have to waste any time hating her. Off-screen Bonnie is a good Bonnie.
2) Klaus' dimples. They were in abundance and melting hearts across America. Effing. Klaus. GIGGLING!!!!! IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT, YOU GUYS!
3) Klaroline (for those of us over age 25, that means Klaus + Caroline in a relationship). This is closely related to Klaus' dimples, and almost as cute. I could have watched an entire hour of these two. I was expecting their date to be full of Caroline rejecting him but the two of them had adorable banter and what seemed to be a genuinely good time. I was a little disappointed that we were teased with this promo pic of them almost kissing but sadly it was nowhere to be found in this episode:
4) Klaus. Along with #2 and #3 above, this guy had a pretty fantastic episode. We got to see all sides of him: threatening, murderous Klaus when he surprises Stefan in the woods; shy, puppy-dog eyes Klaus when asking Caroline out; classy, gentleman Klaus when he gently tells Caroline she's making a scene and when he brings a bottle of champagne and two glasses and when he seems genuinely sad for Caroline when Tyler and Slutbag show up at the pageant together; fun Klaus when he teases her about her MMF application; and profound, poetic 1,000 year old Klaus when he tells the hummingbird story. I love me some JoMo and he didn't disappoint this episode.
5) Jeremy. He finally went from being that annoying kid brother to being a somewhat interesting character. Now if only he'd kill Elena
The LOSERS:
1) The wrinkle between Paul Wesley's eyes. I don't think we saw him with anything other than deeply furrowed eyebrows and you know that isn't going to make for a smooth forehead in the future. Homeboy needs some Botox, stat.
2) Delena fans. The scene where Elena tells Damon she broke up with Stefan because of him was awesome(!) but the sex scene was ruined by Caroline blabbing about the sire bond. If the writers pull that kind of crap on any future Klaroline scenes, I WILL show up at Julie Plec's house with a pitchfork and a strongly worded letter.
3) Matt. Poor guy had to hang out with April for most of the episode.
4) Prof Shane. All this hanging out with teenagers and plying them with underage alcoholic beverages really just makes him seem like some sort of pedophile.
5) Caroline's dress:
Normally the girl looks fantastic, but someone lied to her about that dress. It looked drab and ill-fitting, especially next to the gorgeous dress Elena wore. Oh, and I'm not sure why the reigning Miss Mystic Falls, who curls her hair in EVERY episode, decided to go straight and boring with her hairdo this time around, especially when she knew a hottie like Klaus would be her date...
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