Beaches Jazz Fest 20k/10k/5k Run/Walk
So Michelle has been running a lot lately, tuning up to do a half-marathon in September. To get into things, she also joined the Beaches Jazz Tune-Up, a run/walk event that included 20, 10 and 5k distances. Being an avid walker myself, I figured I would join her that morning by walking the 5k while she ran the 10.
The run went well for Michelle, albeit not so much for me. She started with a specific time group and then ended up outpacing them, which was neat-o! I was really proud of her on her first 10k. Then, after she had already finished, she came out to join me in finishing the last 100m stretch of my 5k, which had started after her run. I was doing the running man dance and throwing my hands in the air and she was doing the Chariots of Fire pose as we crossed the finish line. Fun stuff.
Thankfully we had that, because my walk/run was otherwise not very fun at all! I have been to many a walk/run event before; usually the 20k and 10k events are filled with runners and the 5k is half and half or so. This one was put on by the Running Room, a (mostly) Canadian chain of stores made by and for crazy running cult people. However, they also have products and clinics for the “walking room”, and I saw a number of folks there with their little pedometers and other assorted gadgets that are meant to indicate how seriously you take your athleticism. So I figured I would be among walkers…but no.
When the walk began, the megaphone dude only really referred to the runners while announcing, and suggested that we would finish in 20 minutes or so. Um… I don’t think so. I dropped back to the area with the pedometer people. Then the run began, and the front people started running while the back appeared as though they would walk, but then, as if a wave ran through the crowd from front to back, people started to jog, even the ones that clearly weren’t there for that. It’s like they were afraid of being last or something. There was only one other woman walking, and she was a power walker, and then there was me. At the very end. Taking my sweet time.
I thought I would up my pace and keep up with power walker lady, maybe make a buddy, so I amped it up. But as soon as I caught up to her, she jogged away from me! Then went back to her walking. So I tried again, and again she jogged away! So I was like, fuck this, and I jogged, leaving her behind. Then I saw some joggers that had finally given up and gone back to walking and tried to catch up with them, maybe make some buddies. Guess what happened when I caught up to them? Yeah, they jogged away. Apparently I smell. So I just walked faster than their jogging and left them behind. I didn’t try to make any more buddies, but I did jog about half the distance and my muscles are “thanking” me for it today.
I’m just glad I had my iPod, and I am glad Michelle showed up at the end of the race just as the Ting Tings were coming on, so I could dance around in circles instead of walking or jogging and show these crazy Running Room people how to put the “fun” in Fun Run.
So then after the race we wanted to go to the Jazz Festival in the neighboring park, but we were sweaty and stuff so we had the bright idea to pack along some equipment for swimming at the free community pool right next to the beach. What a great pool! I was shocked. Olympic size, clean, not too crowded, separate kids’ pool and rules keeping minors out of the big pool until they pass the deep water test, and did I mention it’s FREE? Of course swimming after running more than you are ever used to running (I don’t even run for the bus) was a bit of a bad idea. Muscles! Tired! But it was still really nice.
Then we went off to see Lady Son y Articulo Vientes at Jazz Fest and she was fantastic. I have a big crush on Lady Son. The acts that followed were crap in comparison. But we stayed and drank beer all day anyway.













