Pop-up runs 2022
The featured image is a hint for the next pop-up run, subject to change with my ADHD and whimsy.
Dec. 28: Recalling our fairy tale wedding (and love story) 20 years ago this very day
‘Twas complete with thrones, turrets, and a carriage (well, a plastic one on the cake). The soundtrack comprises the songs I could recall from our story and ceremony. As for the costume itself, I found out that the underlying fabric appears to be a repurposed Tarzan print, since the shine of the silver has worn off since my first wear. Plus, the elastic over the shoes wore out super quick. This will take a little maintenance to use a third time.
Dec. 7: Technically I’m always an ugly sweat-er (Ugly Sweater group run)
Last-minute audible to join the KC Running Company annual Ugly Sweater group run. Brad said mine was more garish than ugly, but a T-Rex and Santa pooping into a chimney won the grand prizes. I hope I can make more of these group runs work – good people and good times.
Dec. 1: Happy National Christmas Lights Day!
Yeah, I couldn’t let this one go without an effort. The climb from Crown Center to Westport is a beast, and the wind was crazy tonight. (It’s all fun and games ’til someone loses a ball… ornament.) Not as many folks out on the Plaza as I expected, but the season is still fresh. I got the battery pack to hold still this time, but I still don’t have a solution for how the hood/ treetop piece flops off immediately. Any ideas?
Nov. 25: Did I do Black Friday right?
Had a little fun with Black Friday. The crowds at the Plaza didn’t seem to get it. Had a guy just before I finished in Loose Park stop me and ask if I had a tattoo on my face. LOL.
Oct. 27: Runner ghost said “boo-ooo-ooo BOO!” but back to the house only one ghost flew
Thought I’d swoop in and float another dose of spirit. I tried to use double-sided sticky tape (made to prevent “wardrobe malfunctions”) but it was still a touch hard to breathe. Plenty of honks and a few comments from cars. On to a double-race weekend with some show-stoppers.
Oct. 14: Be Bald and Be Free Day
A fun jaunt with a naked pate, just because. I was dead tired after spending most of the day finalizing the DIY details for the big one tomorrow, but on races like this one where I’m staying close to the start line, I do a 1-way easy run on the way to dinner at Panda Express. As I waited to cross a final crosswalk, a guy looked quizzically at me and gave a thumbs-up when I crossed my arms to confirm I was in fact Mr. Clean. Then he called out, “What’s it for?” I yelled back, “For fun,” but in my head I’m like, what’s anything FOR at this point? Just do whatever.
Sept. 21: Bah-dee-yah, say do you remember?
I just couldn’t resist – do you remember, the twenty-first night of September? I eventually gave up on putting together some holographic pinwheel things, but the air gave me plenty of wind. Fun times.
Sept. 5: I always deliver (Leawood Labor Day 5K)
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor 100% HUMIDITY stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Swift, ha, LOL. But complete they are. Glad for somewhat milder temps, but this costume is just always going to be heavy and sweaty. I might have convinced a few Rotarians that I was a real mail carrier, because they thanked me for my service! Fun as always to see run friends, and I got to see one of my clients who’s involved with a local run club. A few extra miles afterward without the uniform, and I’m ready for some rest on this Labor Day.
Aug. 15: “I Love Cowboys & Cowgirls” Day
Like a spandex cowboy! A last-minute trip to Party City made this look pop with the “good guy” hat. I grew up in an agricultural college town where classmates wore cowboy boots unironically, came to the Big City (home of the best beef for many states around), and married the granddaughter of a horse rancher and farmer from western Kansas. I might never be an actual cowboy, but I’m definitely cowboy-adjacent. BTW, didja notice the route looks like a lasso? I didn’t really plan that, but it’s fine as cream gravy if you ask me.
Aug. 9: Goodbye to Sandra Dee
Guess mine is not the first heart broken, my eyes are not the first to cry. A genuine unplanned pop-up, but I had to remember Dame Olivia Newton-John with a favorite. “Physical” was already on this Saturday’s playlist, and I don’t think even I can pull off Xanadu, but Zuko can have one last dance with Sandy. Summer dreams ripped at the seams yesterday when I heard the news, but… oh. Hold your head high, take a deep breath and sigh, “Goodbye to Sandra Dee.”
July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
Happy #NationalHotFudgeSundaeDay! With the number of ice cream related “holidays” this month (see below), it was just a matter of picking a date for this.
- July 1 National Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day
- July 7 Chocolate Day, National Strawberry Sundae Day
- July 8 National Ice Cream Sundae Day
- July 17 National Ice Cream Day, National Peach Ice Cream Day
- July 23 National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day
- July 25 National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
- July 27 National Crème Brûlée Day
- July 28 National Milk Chocolate Day
- July 30 National Cheesecake Day
- All of July!!! National Ice Cream Month
July 11: Hot in herrre
It’s getting HOT in herrre, but I put on more clothes this time. Fun playlist! I’m too bringing sexyback for this song, and I know it. And hallelujah it’s raining men after midnight!
July 4: The fact that we’re alive right now is a miracle! (Ward Parkway Four on the 4th)
Hamilton faces an endless uphill climb – felt like it anyway. The mixtape took a lot of DIY, including some painstaking rhinestone replacement after countless tries at ironing and peeling, only to have a chunk not stick. It was hot and super muggy, but I tried to prepare. I shoved a couple ice packs into the base layer, plus a USB-charged fan around my neck. At least Ward Parkway’s abundant trees have full leaves this time of year, and there was a very slight breeze. Next time I want to wear a full-length waistcoat, vest, and jabot in July… Lord, show me how to say no to this!
June 25: Summer bops
Reprise from 2020, this time with the splashpads turned on. Sidewalks – and air quality – were hit and miss, but the big finish at the Concourse was a hoot. This playlist is the hit songs of the summers from when I started caring about music up through high school. 1982 gets two because I absolutely loved the song Rosanna (Toto) that year but couldn’t leave Eye of the Tiger (Survivor Band) out either.
June 10: Love is love!
A tour of some of Midtown’s most inclusive spots, then down to KC PrideFest by Kansas City Pride Community Alliance. Well, just outside it with plenty of folkx going to and from. One lovely human said they loved the outfit and blew me a kiss from their car. Honks and waves, a “Happy Pride” or two, and some applause from a couple gals out enjoying a vice or two in front of the Marriott, and it was worth the sweat – mostly downhill for once!
June 3: Happy National Donut Day!
Warmup for Hospital Hill Run. Through Westport and down a narrowed Main Street, so lots of up-close honks and “hell, yeah, man!”
June 1: Around the World
Global Running Day. First time checking out a Kansas City Running Company group run. What a crowd! The flags and songs represent current top charting music from the countries represented by the fastest and best distance runners in the world (hence Ethiopia and Kenya).
May 30: Rising up, back on the street (Going the Distance 5K)
Somehow I’ve never done the Going the Distance for Brain Injury Run (formerly Amy Thompson Memorial Run), now in its 35th year. The sunglasses broke before race start, but a single safety pin held off any further wardrobe malfunctions. Note to self – it’s really hard to wipe sweat away with boxing gloves.
May 13: Cowabunga dude
Shell shocked, if you know what I mean. When it’s 80° and muggy, cotton chafes as bad as shell on skin. Worth it as always just for a few nods or a wave from a Budweiser-hoisting golfer.
Apr. 24: Tempo run, but make it syncopated
I couldn’t let #JazzAppreciationMonth(#JAM) pass by without a dose of #Jazz print, #jazzhands, and Kansas City jazz legends
Apr. 4: #StandWithUkraine
A simple visual message. The temps were in that sweet spot where the face paint melted with my sweat but also I got a chill before the end. Songs shuffled from the “Ukrainian Hits Right Now” playlist on Apple Music.
Apr. 1: Y’all gone make me April Fool, up in here, up in here!
So much fun – way more CPM (comments per mile) than usual. My favorite was the guy who used a plastic cone as a megaphone, because who doesn’t have one of those in their car?
Top to bottom: jester hat, goofy eyes, clown shirt with polka dots, tutu, and Kapow gold meggings.
Mar. 28: Man, they were blowing like a hurricane
A mostly lonely Legacy Loop in Lee’s Summit. And it was “blowin’ like a hurri-can” for most of it, to the point I could barely keep the hat on. They might have called me The Wanderer for some rerouting I had to do upon finding that the dotted lines on the map actually meant a muddy trail, not pavement. Still, a fun little one.
Mar. 7: La La La La La La, La La La La La, Smurfs
So Smurfy it HURTS. Technically I bought the shirt for this pop-up, but everything can and has been used for many costume elements as well as everyday running wear. Now if I could just find a way to keep face paint from staining white cloth? BTW, ignore the leprechaun for now, although today adds to my list of “World’s Tallest” along with leprechaun, Munchkin, and Oompa Loompa.
Feb. 28: Fox on the run
Back to the typical but always fun host of honks, waves, and shout-outs in and around Prairie Village. I’ll tell you, though. This fox thought his February fur would be fine, but it wasn’t exactly freezing, so he was nearly fried. But the day I’m no longer willing to throw on a onesie in mid-60s temps for absolutely no reason – that will be the day something beautiful in me dies.
Jan. 26: It’s a kind of magic – one dream, one goal
A quick loop near home, plus a few honks ought to do the trick! Lost the top hat to the wind once, but got it mashed on after that.
Jan. 8: I don’t care, I don’t care if they call me crazy
OK, maybe I care a little. I punted on my planned route when I found the 152 Trail entirely covered with ice. Going along Barry gave me more visibility anyway. Thanks to the guy who called out, “Hey man, it’s cold. GO HOME!” I did, shortly after that.
Other pop-up years:
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