Flaviana in the 'Sota: Burning off Some Blubber at the 2010 James Page Blubber Run

Welcome back all to regular postings on the Flaviana blog!!! A few Saturdays ago, my friend, Adrea and I participated in the annual James Page Blubber Run. And unlike other runs that I've done through NYRR, the Blubber Run combines two of my favorite activities: running and drinking beer!!!

Now, I feel that it's disrespectful not to mention that this year, the blubber run was held on September 11. The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is a mournful day for most Americans, but it is a particularly somber day for New Yorkers who were in New York City on Sept 11, 2001. Because this year was the first year I haven't been in NY on 9/11, I was worried that I would be sad and wishing I could be with my friends who were also there on that horrible, horrible day. So, when my friend Adrea invited me to participate in the Blubber Run, I made an important decision - rather than be a mopey, sad sack, I would spend my Saturday forgetting my cares and having a fun time at the run.

By way of background, the James Page Blubber Run is not your typical 5K. Unlike the NYRR races where you get a water or gatorade at a pit stop, they give you a beer. Also, in addition to the beer pit stops, the Blubber Run features many runners in crazy costumes!!!

There were even pups who got in on the action - too bad Lucy doesn't have the stamina for a 5K.

Drea was definitely in the costumed spirit and came to the run with a Fake Derriere - Bottoms Up!!!

LA face with an Oak Town Bootie!!!

And, since I didn't get the memo about the costumed nature of the run, Adrea was kind enough to bring me a colorful feather boa so that I would not be left out.

And so began the Blubber Run - Drea and I jogged along the Mississippi River, enjoying the beautiful scenery and snickering at our fellow costumed runners. But as we ran over the Mississippi River on our way to the finish line we both were asking ourselves a nagging question - Where was this beer pit stop we'd heard so much about??? Finally, as promised, we reached the beer!

Beer Break!!! Yippie!!!

After running approximately 2 miles and drinking a beer, Drea and I decided that we had exerted ourselves enough for one day. So, rather than run the rest of the way, we headed toward the finish line at a respectable mosey. However, one draw back of finishing the race at a leisurely pace is that the beer and food lines were OOC - a very short sighted plan indeed:(