Reindeer Run 5K

Last Saturday (Dec. 11th), I ran the Dan Newlin’s Reindeer Run. Dan Newlin is this creepy lawyer dude that used to be a cop, but now he’s a lawyer and he has tons of commericials about it. My friends and I (and the hubby) have decided that he is the David Maus of lawyers. Of course, you need to live in Orlando to understand that, but believe me he is.

Sooo anyways. I picked my friends Tracy and Heather @ 6am and we headed to Sea World for the race. I probably would have left a little later, but I opted to pick up my race packet the day. We got there by 6:40, but the parking was all backed up so we didn’t actually park for another 15 minutes. I might be over-exaggerating this, but it felt like it was that long.

After finding Paula, finally checking in, getting my bib #, attaching a jingle bell to my shoe (what – you don’t do this at every race?), and dropping my stuff back at my car, I was ready to run. Too bad the traffic they delayed the race by 30 minutes. Awesome. Especially because it was 50 degrees outside. So what did we do? Take pictures of course.

These are all stolen from Paula…

Paula looks so cute in her Hello Kitty Shirt

Tracy, Heather, Me

Cold and ready to run

We finally started around 7:55 (ish). The first mile was in the parking lot of Sea World. BORING. I was really worried that we were JUST running around the parking lot – until we entered the park. That part of the race was really fun – until we ate “snowflakes.” Not sure who’s genius idea it was to turn on the “snow” machine (I’m pretty sure it was Downey Flakes), but they should be fired. It was pretty gross and distracting — in my mouth.

By mile 2.5 I just wanted to be done. Considering I usually run longer distances this was not a good thing. It didn’t help that there were 7 year-old kids beating me. *sigh* Plus, the ground was wet and the backlot (where they take the trash!) part of the park was pretty boring.

One funny thing to note…Paula and I were discussing how I forgot to charge my camera battery (hence, the stealing photos). I COULD have brought my DSLR but then I would have had a big ass camera hanging around my neck – and Paula offered up bringing her tripod. SOOOOOO – the awesomest part of the whole race? There was a dude RUNNING WITH HIS TRIPOD. I kid you not. I wish I did bring my big ass camera just so I could have gotten a picture of it, it was awesome.

Also awesome? My finishing pictures. Am I a rock star or what? I think I look like I’m gonna die. I want to tell myself it’s gonna be alright.

My other awesome picture? The “stopping the Garmin picture” — way to go Michelle!

Overall, it was an untimed race (there wasn’t any kind of chip time) so while the clock say 28:48 – I probably finished closer to 27. My Garmin also said I ran 3:36 miles. Woo! I’ll probably run this again, if anything for the tech tee and to hang with my friends. I really really (REALLY) hate 5Ks, but when I have limited race options, I will take them!

After the race I ran around like a mad woman – stopping by Starbucks (got some weird looks – wonder why?) and my dad’s work (to pick up some free Disney tickets – yay for free!). Wouldn’t you be proud of your daughter if she showed up at your workplace dressed like this?