Bling Ain't My Thing

It's dawning on me how weird I am.

I've had my suspicions for decades, but blogging has really brought it to my attention. Wait, let me specify...blogging about my running/fitness (or lack thereof at the moment) and reading other blogs about the same has shown me very clearly how different I am from the mainstream. Not at all better, mind you, just different.

First, I do not enjoy expos. I think as an athlete they are a complete waste of time...for the most part. They feel so pushy and grubby and congested...or empty. I've yet to have an expo experience rock my world...or remotely appeal. Yoo hoo... Race Director, can you please just send me my stuff? Without charging me $9.99?

Next weirdness... race t-shirts. Don't want 'em. If it's cotton, I might wear my race t-shirt to sleep in or when taking an ice bath. If it's a tech tee and it doesn't smell horribly like chemicals, it probably won't fit very well or will be itchy, and there is a minuscule chance I will ever wear it even if it's pretty nice. I like those races where they discount your entry fee if you wish to pass on the shirt. Check. That. Box.

My third point of oddness would be my preference for not racing very often. I relish the training. While I do enjoy checking my progress from time to time in a race setting, I really love the journey.

Which brings us to the grand-daddy bizarrity ... bling ain't my thing.

I do not need or really even want a finisher's medal. I totally understand why people like them, and races do go to some trouble to make interesting/attractive/desirable-looking medals. I know most people want a physical testament to the fact that they completed something...an object they can show people and show themselves as evidence of their accomplishment. For me personally, unless I won something, I'm not inclined to display it...and even then I probably won't. Case in point:  my rowing medals...

...in a box in my garage.

I find the satisfaction in the doing and not so much in the trappings. But that's just me...and I know it's weird.

How do you feel about these things...expos, race tees, races in and of themselves, and bling? Way into them? Some of them? Don't care? Somewhere in the middle? I'm really curious!

Super Lame-o Expo

The lameness of the Expo for the 100th running of the San Francisco Bay to Breakers ... o, excuuuuse me... the ZAZZLE San Francisco Bay to Breakers... skipped right over "disappointing" and tripped on "pathetic" before falling face-first into "embarrassment."  Or is that just how expos are nowadays?

My friends who went with me felt the same. One of them kept saying, "I can't believe there is no free stuff!" and shaking her head in disbelief. Personally, I was sorely disappointed at the lack of interesting vendors and dearth of exciting products to be had at promotional prices. In its defense, there will be a couple of celebrities later on today and for a little bit tomorrow afternoon, but I'm not able to go gawk at the specified times.

The only thing more disappointing than the Expo is the race shirt. For it being the "world's most creative footrace" and sponsored by a printing company who touts themselves as equally creative, it is sooooooo boring. See the picture below.

little free bag at bottom of shirt... oooooo... ahhhhhhh

It was, surprisingly, the drive to the Expo that was very fun and exciting! Anytime you go to the downtown of a major metropolis at the lunch hour, you are destined to have a good time.

One of my friends and I drove over the bridge from where we live into San Francisco to pick up our other friend at her office in the heart of downtown, then we got totally lost trying to get to the Expo. Making wrong turns and almost going back over the bridge, following dead end streets and needing to make illegal u-turns, and, in fact, making an illegal turn right in front of the Department of Justice (police station). I didn't know it was an illegal turn, and I really didn't know it was the DOJ... I thought maybe there was some major crime bust going on to explain all of the police cars lining the street. Or that maybe they were after me ;-) But we did make it in one piece and even scored a most excellent parking spot... right across the street... legal and everything :)

I am so glad I have a super awesome race plan, and I have a feeling that the race will be a blast... even if the Expo was a joke.

It is supposed to rain. But I know how to cope with that,... nothing a good Hefty bag can't handle!