2006 Bayou City Classic 10K

Mon Mar 13 2006

[photopress:bayoucityclassiclogo.jpg,thumb,alignleft] Sunday’s Bayou City Classic 10K was my 2nd favorite race to date (1st is the 2006 Houston Marathon). I haven’t had so much fun at a race - got to run with a friend, wear a silly costume, stop and chat with friends along the course, take pictures and run the 6.2 miles purely for fun.

I was a Running Nose (my Halloween costume from last year) and John was a Box o’ Tissues. The backup plan was for John to wrap himself up in yellow saran wrap and go as a Running Booger, but in the end, the Box idea came through.

John and I had arranged to meet by the chip pick-up at 7:15ish. I was, of course, running late. As I circled around for parking, I was a little disappointed (and concerned) that there weren’t many runners in costume. I had visions that just John and I would be the only idiots to show up in costume…..but then I saw two girls wearing hula skirts and felt better. I found a pay lot behind City Hall, stuffed the only $1 I had into the cash box for my $6 parking fee, and prayed that my car would still be there after the race (it was).

After wandering through the crowd, I found John doing his pre-run stretches. His HUGE tissue box was leaning against a pillar. He said he had to lean the box on its side because people kept mistaking his costume for a trash can - and sure enough, as he was telling me this, a girl tried to throw some trash into his costume.

We wandered over to the starting area, and found the congregation of costumed runners. Yay! Still, we were a little disappointed that there weren’t more costumes, but it was fun walking around and talking with people.

There were two costume categories - individual costumes, and centipedes. Centipedes were defined as a group of at least 6 runners physically connected.

Amazingly, there was another Nose-Tissue Box-themed group! I ran up to them in my nose costume, shouting “Hey! We have the same idea!!!” I may have scared them a bit. This centipede was made up of six Houston Masters, and their noses were made of styrofoam - verrrry smart. I’ll bet their noses were lighter and far more aerodynamic than mine.

Anyways, highlights from the race:

Before the race, I told John that we’d probably see several Dick Cheney-themed costumes. I was right - we counted three. And they were all hilarious. One, led by my favorite female Korean runner, Yong, played “Cheney’s Got a Gun” while they ran. Another group had runners wearing duck hats while their teammates ran behind them with rifles.
We stopped at the first water stop so John could use the portacans. I stood guard so people wouldn’t throw their water cups into his box.
John’s costume was huge and weighed a good 10 pounds. It was so big, he couldn’t even stick his arms out…..so basically, he had to balance the box on his shoulders for the entire race. He said he felt like he was running in a sauna.
Alicia and Marilyn were waiting for us in front of Alicia’s apartment complex. We stopped for some pictures and laughs.
John told everyone he was naked under his box.
John wanted to stop at the water stops only if a cute girl was there to pour water down his throat. As we approached the last water stop (mile 5.5?), he said, “No, it’s all guys. Let’s go.”
There was a guy wearing a Canadian do-rag that kept running past us, stopping, then running again. John was determined not to let him beat us. “We can’t get beat by a Canadian,” he said.
Right before the finish line, the Costume judge greeted us with a “You just BLEW by us! You’re gonna win by a NOSE!” I started cracking up. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice Canadian Do-Rag guy passing us.
After the race, I picked up my Marathon Finisher’s towel, and then we stood in line for the BEST EVER post-race treat - FREE St. Arnold’s Beer.
Watched part of the award ceremony with Edwin, Holden, Cassie and Jessica. Also saw Steeeve. Jessica won an award for the Fillie’s division!
John and I won an award for our Costume. When they first announced “Running Nose and Tissue,” I thought they were talking about the Centipede group……but it turns out, we won an award for individual costume! It also turns out that everyone in costume won an award, but hey.