Day 21 of our Christmas Countdown brought us to the Dallas Jingle Bell Run, a 5k race that started and ended next to the Hilton Anatole. Around 5000 runners and walkers participated this year, many of them wearing holiday garb – Santa hats, Christmas lights, reindeer antlers, jingle bells on their shoelaces, a full reindeer costume, Buddy the Elf, and a weird Christmas dress that looked like Mrs. Claus’s lingerie. (!) Although some hardcore runners were there (15:07 for the winner, around 5:00/mile), the overall vibe was festivity and fun with lots of walkers, casual runners, kids, and dogs. Some of my friends from work and church ran or walked. Here are a few highlights:

• Although I didn’t meet my primary goal time goal (partly because the first half mile was so crowded and I started from the middle of the pack), I did PR, which was my other goal. Considering I couldn’t run a quarter mile without horrible knee pain just a few years ago, I’m very pleased. I also kept my pace roughly consistent from mile to mile instead of starting like a jackrabbit and fading at the end like I’ve done before. Note to self: don’t try to PR at a race with 5000 people. Wait for the 100-person fundraisers for a small charity instead.
• Brenden got to experience his first Port-A-Potty. In the dark. Have you ever tried to use a Port-A-Potty in the dark? How about with a three-year-old who could easily fall in with a poorly placed step? He wasn’t a fan. Neither was I, but it beat an accident at Mile 2.
• At the start/finish line, they offered free Myoplex protein drinks. They were banana cream flavor, which sounded odd and turned off many of the runners, but were actually quite good. I drank one and took home two more. I refrained from tricking Jenny into trying one.
• Jenny got a great workout by pulling the boys in their new red wagon while I ran ahead. Unfortunately, between the boys stealing each others’ food and glow sticks, Brenden being cold the whole way but refusing to put on his coat or walk to warm up (really?), and our friend’s 14-month-old daughter who was unhappy most of the way, it wasn’t exactly a fun experience for Jenny. As we swore last year after the Water is Basic 5k, we’re going to wait a while before taking the boys on another race.
• Rumor had it that the post-race party inside the Anatole had pizza and beer. My kids and wife were DONE, so we went home instead.
• My buddy Marvin from work finished his first 5k. He wasn’t sure he could do it, but he trained hard and pressed on until he reached the finish line. Bravo, Marvin!

Overall, it was a good event, although pretty stressful for Jenny. She took some pictures of Brenden pulling Jonathan toward the finish line. I’ll post them here if they turned out OK.

Next up: training for the Cowtown Half in late February. I’m also slightly intrigued by the Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred bicycle race in Wichita Falls in late August. I couldn’t do the full hundred miles, but they have some shorter distances that might work (25 mile, 50 mile).