OK, we didn't have any actual snow to dash through although it rained a bit just before we went out on the run.
Twenty seven runners came up to our house on Wednesday night for our 4th annual Christmas Lights Run.
After a pleasant 3-4 mile run during which we stopped for some pictures and some refreshments we all gathered at the house for hot soup and fresh baked bread.
Marc passes out the sleigh bells at the door.
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It all started pretty innocently. I sent out my usual email encouraging people to come to the track workout. Later on that day I'm working diligently away at my desk and this shows up in my email inbox:
I could just hear Kim "saying" that with that sarcastic humor of hers and it just cracked me up. Then I got an inspiration. Now you know the origin of the idea for the track prizes last Monday.
Then, later Monday night, I get an email from Kim's Blackberry. Here's what she sent me:
It's a wonderfully organized wrapping supplies drawer don't you think?
But I did notice that there's room in there for more sandwich bags, which gave me another idea. That's when I decided to ask you all to bring sandwich bags to the Academy Run with the plan that we would bury Kim in sandwich bags when she showed up.
So Wednesday evening rolls around. I've got 5 boxes of sandwich bags in my car in case anyone doesn't get a chance to get some before the run. Everyone is showing up with sandwich bags and wondering what the deal is. Then I get a call on my cell. It's Kim. She's stuck in traffic in Rio Rancho. I tell her that's OK, we'll wait for her. But no, she's too far away and it would take way too long. I extract a promise that she'll show up on Saturday at Montgomery and Tramway and decide to postpone the plan.
Friday night I called Scott, Kim's husband, and enlisted his help in making sure that Kim shows up on Saturday morning. Scott says he'll do his best even though Zack, their 7 year old son, broke his arm the day before.
Saturday morning rolls around and I get to Montgomery and Tramway early. People with sandwich bags are everywhere. I pass out the extra bags that I have and nervously wait to see if Kim shows up. Finally, close to 8 o'clock, Kim's car pulls into the parking lot, Kim gets out of the car and disappears. Where the heck did Kim go? A few minutes later, Kim finally appears out of nowhere and the fun starts:
Boxes of sandwich bags show up out of nowhere:
Here's Kim with the full load:
And so we inaugurated the Winter Warriors "Bag It" award. The Bag It award will occasionally go to the runner who comes up with the most original, the lamest or just the funniest excuse for not showing up at one of the runs. This week the award went to Kim, making her the "Bag Lady" for the week. If a guy gets the award he will be the "Bag Man" of the week.
Then we went out for our run on a lovely morning with a great view of the mountains wearing a wintry shroud:
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Nice shoes Jennifer! What brand are those anyway?
Then we all (OK, some of us. Others allegedly had "things" to do) went over to Starbucks for refreshments.
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So, when you decide not to come to one of the runs, be careful what you use for an excuse. Your excuse could become a theme of the week and you could become a "Bag Person".
The group at the Academy was pretty small. I was a little puzzled as to why until I arrived at Fleet Feet after the Academy group left to run and saw the huge crowd. Just about everybody showed up at Fleet Feet sometime between 6 and 9 on Wednesday Night.
Kim Jefferies shows off her new Garmin 305 that she's testing out tonight.
Here's the group that showed up to run Wednesday night. Sadly, I couldn't run as I was headed to Fleet Feet for the In Motion/Abq-Fit kickoff.
I understand that conditions were perfect for the run too. Oh well, there's always next week.
Besides, I felt the early symptoms of SRS coming on so a day off was in order.
We had a surprise visitor on Wednesday. Mrs. Gamble showed up with her new friend, Stella. Stella is very cute and was very well behaved.
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Join us next Wednesday when we're once again gathered at the Starbucks on Academy near Wyoming at 6PM for another fun run around the Academy.
