An Awesome Day

Watching the clock, I managed my way at work through the morning, waiting for the clock to show a time acceptable for me to start my early lunch.  The PF Changs Expo awaited me.  Finally I left the office and road the metro downtown and walked into the expo.  Expo's are about free stuff.  Fill out the card with the work email and enter a drawing, pick up samples and watch what others are doing.  I saw a guy walk up hand a card and receive a Power Balance pendant.  The wrist band, with the same technology as the pendant, are the latest craze.  I don't know if I believe in the electro-magnetic, radio waves, super strength, mumbo jumbo but I am curious.  Everytime I take their "strength" test I can't tell the difference so I listen to their spiel and walk away.  I learned these cards are handed out by the goody bags in registration and I zipped over there to get my own card and get my own pendant.  I'm pretty sure that the people in the Power Balance booth should have been doing a drawing and not flat handing out these $35 pendants but I wanted in on the deal before they figured that out.

My Free Stuff

I also got a Power Balance bracelet...for free from the PF Changs booth, 2 bags, 1 "backpack", bandana from Brooks, bars, cereal, bandaids and a fuzzy gecko from Geicho. All for just walking around.

My Purchases

I did my share to support the economy and help the vendors pay for their booth and bought a pair of Nike Lunar Glides 2, Nike Capris, throwaway sweats to wear at Boston and a lubricant spray.  I'm hoping the Trislide helps with the chafing since I'm not having luck with Aquafor and gave up long ago on Glide.

While I was wandering around I recognized a face and quickly put a name to the face....Frank Shorter!  Since he had just finished with the news crew, I asked if I could take a picture with him.  We found a lady to take our picture but she needed to take a picture of the Simpsons display first.  Frank was super nice and took a picture of her with the Simpsons and even made her lay upside down on the bench to get the picture.  She then asked if we wanted our picture with the Simpsons too, Frank, again being very nice, said no we don't want it with the Simpsons.  She took our picture and then asked if he was famous or something.  I laughed and said yes, he's famous.  Frank said non-chalantly something about the Olympics.  We exchanged a couple formalities...he had his hip replaced and can now run up to an hour at a time and he likes the canals.

I headed back to the office and showed everyone I could the picture. Non-runners couldn't understand why I was so gitty with excitement so I was limited to who I could show the picture to.

A couple hours of working and I got the text that the press passes were picked up and Sunday is on.  I get to ride on the press truck for the marathon.  I hope to be on the truck for the female marathons but I'll take anything.  I'm so excited I could pee my pants.  I may have to start wearing Depends because I'm so dang excited about Sunday.  It doesn't look like the interview with Kara is going to happen because her baby, Colt, is sick.

I sent in my money for Chicago Ragnar and proposed some team names.  Running Relays has some great suggestions for names like

Agony of De Feet

The Poor Unfortunate Soles

SWAT (Sweaty, Worn Out and Trapped in this Van)

R.O.U.S.’s – Runners Of Unusual Speed (if you like Princess Bride this one is awesome)

Worst Pace Scenario

Running Our Assets Off

Kiss My Asphalt

Gu’d To Go

Runs N Roses

Sleepless in Chicago

The fast and the Delirious

The Postfontaines

Elvis Has Left The Van

Kenyan Albino Running Team

So You Think You Can Run?

Law and Odor

Pimp My Stride

This Isn’t A 10k?

Your Pace or Mine? 

On my way home Rae from Ragnar called me and said I was IN for the SWAT team at Del Sol.  I thought I had told her I wanted to volunteer as SWAT but I guess I didn't and I was worried there wasn't space.  Luckily there's an opening and I get to work Exchange 6 with Rae. Not only do I get to work the exchange,  I also get to set up the starting line and ride with Rae through the night handing out stuff.  It'll be an exhausting night of fun.  I want to find a costume for the weekend.  I was thinking a bright blue wig with orange and blue socks to go along with Rae's costume.  Ideas of what to wear?  Where do I find funky socks and wigs?

Happy Running!