Monday, February 02, 2009
To Mr. Ed's Super Bowl Warm Up yesterday with Jim, the 20th edition of this event. I think the conditions were probably about as good as it is possible to expect in Middleport in February. Mid-30's, sunny. The track was mostly clear, except along the towpath where it was sloppy, but not difficult to traverse. The event seems better run every year, although it seems like it is always about the same size, and mostly the same people. This year's shirt was an aberration: an attractive Carolina blue with a modest embroidered medallion of the race's eponymous equine icon. No advertising, nothing to distract from the clean design. I'm not sure what to make of this. One of the things I like about this race is its local quality. Time was that when you ran a race you'd show up wearing the oldest version of that races shirt you had, to demonstrate your veteran status. This is a tradition that has mostly gone by the boards, but people stilldo it at Mr. Ed's, and the worn, faded quality of the shirts established pretty clearly that these people by gum wear these shirts, fashion be damned.
Jim is resting his kidneys, so we didn't linger, but I'd say it was a quality morning. And I made up for not lingering by working my kidneys out with a few Dogfish Head IPAs later.
Jim is resting his kidneys, so we didn't linger, but I'd say it was a quality morning. And I made up for not lingering by working my kidneys out with a few Dogfish Head IPAs later.
