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<b>Hair of the Dog 5K (aka Wardrobe Malfunction 5K)</b><br>
10 a.m. Jan. 1, 2008 in Va. Beach, VA<br><br>
Background: My best intentions to be a Responsible Adult and sloowwwwly sip a glass or two of wine were derailed by very well-made cosmopolitans that kept magically appearing before me, along with fun '80s dance tunes at a NYE party. My resolve was no match for that kind of enticement, and I passed out in a swirling bed around 1 a.m.<br><br>
So, this morning...<br><br><i><b>BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE- what's that noise? Wha-?</b></i> My alarm was screaming. Momentarily I considered shutting it off and staying under the covers. But I couldn't. My Kickrunners friends had chosen today's running outfit, and some had even pre-donated thier support for the cause I'm running for this spring. I had to be accountable. So I made some coffee, got dressed up, and met my friends at our departure point to carpool the hour to the race site. Three of us were entered in the Formalwear Division, and two as regular runners.<br><br>
The race was well-attended. Most people wore running clothes, but plenty sported formalwear, pajamas, and/or brought their dogs to the Hair of the Dog. It made for even better people watching than the average race.<br><br>
Walking around before the start, I realized all my joking this week about "wardrobe malfunctions" was no laughing matter. In the shortest dress I think I've ever worn, I felt totally exposed from behind. Unlike most of the (smarter) formalwear runners, I had foregone slipping a pair of running shorts under my dress, opting instead for a pair of pantyhose with built-in support shorts that didn't offer enough coverage for a flimsy minidress. But I didn't want to run with my jacket tied around me. It would ruin the effect.<br><br>
There's a saying or two about vanity and fools and pride, isn't there?<br><br>
I had intended to run at a training pace, but otherwise had no real race plan. As soon as we started, it was apparent that due to the biomechanics of running I would not be able to keep training pace without everyone behind seeing my sheer nylon-covered behind. <img alt="uhoh2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/uhoh2.gif"> One of my friends let me tie her jacket around my waist, which only also made everything ride up. I decided to stay with my formalwear-wearing friends for moral support and keep a more, er, <i>modest</i> pace for me.<br><br>
We covered the first mile in 12:35. I spent it asking my friends if they could see my butt and cursing my Kickrunners friends for choosing this particular dress.<br><br>
Shortly after the first mile, we rounded a corner that gave us a view of the winners making the final turn to the finish. And we still had almost 2 miles to go! So, we decided to start walking. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> Mile 2 was in 15:20.<br><br>
For as long as I can remember, every race I've done has been with a time goal, an attempt to place high, or at the very least the task of keeping at a set pace. It was such a shift to walk and let go of anything resembling racing and pacing. We were getting passed by walkers! We were being chip timed! There were going to be official results! My mind fought it at first, but as I talked and laughed with my friends and the other people around us, I started having a great time. It became a drastically different way to experience a race, and was definitely an opportunity to notice my ego.<br><br>
We walked a good portion of the last 1.1 mile in 15:57, except by the race photographer and at the final stretch when we linked arms and jogged in together.<br><br>
I earned a new personal worst in the 5K distance (45:13) -- but hey, I didn't all-out moon anyone in the process, will able to really bring my time down for the year <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">, and started 2008 with a very fun and different running adventure!<br><br>
A few photos:<br><br><b>Here's to the Kickrunners who participated in this spectacle with me in one way or another!</b><br><br><img alt="" src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/andyber1/Hair%20of%20the%20Dog%205K/2007_1226Image0017.jpg?t=1199216757" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br><b>The Wedding Party</b> (my friends in their matching gowns on the left with a couple who had really tied the knot three days ago)<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/andyber1/Hair%20of%20the%20Dog%205K/2007_1226Image0035.jpg?t=1199220005" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
******************************************<br><br>
Silliness aside, the reason I have been such an attention-monger <img alt="blush.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/blush.gif"> about this run is to provide a little information and raise a little money for a worthwhile cause. If you're so inclined, please see <a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17886" target="_blank">this earlier thread</a> or <a href="http://www.firstgiving.org/andreaberninger" target="_blank">my fund-raising site</a> to learn a little more about two of my heroines.
10 a.m. Jan. 1, 2008 in Va. Beach, VA<br><br>
Background: My best intentions to be a Responsible Adult and sloowwwwly sip a glass or two of wine were derailed by very well-made cosmopolitans that kept magically appearing before me, along with fun '80s dance tunes at a NYE party. My resolve was no match for that kind of enticement, and I passed out in a swirling bed around 1 a.m.<br><br>
So, this morning...<br><br><i><b>BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE- what's that noise? Wha-?</b></i> My alarm was screaming. Momentarily I considered shutting it off and staying under the covers. But I couldn't. My Kickrunners friends had chosen today's running outfit, and some had even pre-donated thier support for the cause I'm running for this spring. I had to be accountable. So I made some coffee, got dressed up, and met my friends at our departure point to carpool the hour to the race site. Three of us were entered in the Formalwear Division, and two as regular runners.<br><br>
The race was well-attended. Most people wore running clothes, but plenty sported formalwear, pajamas, and/or brought their dogs to the Hair of the Dog. It made for even better people watching than the average race.<br><br>
Walking around before the start, I realized all my joking this week about "wardrobe malfunctions" was no laughing matter. In the shortest dress I think I've ever worn, I felt totally exposed from behind. Unlike most of the (smarter) formalwear runners, I had foregone slipping a pair of running shorts under my dress, opting instead for a pair of pantyhose with built-in support shorts that didn't offer enough coverage for a flimsy minidress. But I didn't want to run with my jacket tied around me. It would ruin the effect.<br><br>
There's a saying or two about vanity and fools and pride, isn't there?<br><br>
I had intended to run at a training pace, but otherwise had no real race plan. As soon as we started, it was apparent that due to the biomechanics of running I would not be able to keep training pace without everyone behind seeing my sheer nylon-covered behind. <img alt="uhoh2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/uhoh2.gif"> One of my friends let me tie her jacket around my waist, which only also made everything ride up. I decided to stay with my formalwear-wearing friends for moral support and keep a more, er, <i>modest</i> pace for me.<br><br>
We covered the first mile in 12:35. I spent it asking my friends if they could see my butt and cursing my Kickrunners friends for choosing this particular dress.<br><br>
Shortly after the first mile, we rounded a corner that gave us a view of the winners making the final turn to the finish. And we still had almost 2 miles to go! So, we decided to start walking. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> Mile 2 was in 15:20.<br><br>
For as long as I can remember, every race I've done has been with a time goal, an attempt to place high, or at the very least the task of keeping at a set pace. It was such a shift to walk and let go of anything resembling racing and pacing. We were getting passed by walkers! We were being chip timed! There were going to be official results! My mind fought it at first, but as I talked and laughed with my friends and the other people around us, I started having a great time. It became a drastically different way to experience a race, and was definitely an opportunity to notice my ego.<br><br>
We walked a good portion of the last 1.1 mile in 15:57, except by the race photographer and at the final stretch when we linked arms and jogged in together.<br><br>
I earned a new personal worst in the 5K distance (45:13) -- but hey, I didn't all-out moon anyone in the process, will able to really bring my time down for the year <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">, and started 2008 with a very fun and different running adventure!<br><br>
A few photos:<br><br><b>Here's to the Kickrunners who participated in this spectacle with me in one way or another!</b><br><br><img alt="" src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/andyber1/Hair%20of%20the%20Dog%205K/2007_1226Image0017.jpg?t=1199216757" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br><b>The Wedding Party</b> (my friends in their matching gowns on the left with a couple who had really tied the knot three days ago)<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/andyber1/Hair%20of%20the%20Dog%205K/2007_1226Image0035.jpg?t=1199220005" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
******************************************<br><br>
Silliness aside, the reason I have been such an attention-monger <img alt="blush.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/blush.gif"> about this run is to provide a little information and raise a little money for a worthwhile cause. If you're so inclined, please see <a href="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17886" target="_blank">this earlier thread</a> or <a href="http://www.firstgiving.org/andreaberninger" target="_blank">my fund-raising site</a> to learn a little more about two of my heroines.
