Birthday Run Redux; This Time It’s Personal…

Actually, this time it’s for our good man, Mohammed.  But nonetheless, it’s obvious he’s taken the whole episode from my birthday run to heart.  In an email post from late last night, he has assigned bib numbers for tomorrow’s (1-23-10) Sultan 50K.  It is painfully obvious that the numbers were assigned given the participant’s level of kindness toward me over the last year or so.  Example: Mark Lundblad, number 7.  He laundered and returned via mail my half-frozen habiliments from last year’s Mount Mitchell Challenge.  Melinda Yelton, number 11096.  Dissed me horribly on my birthday run.  And, no, there are NOT 11,000 attendees expected.  The number is merely commensurate with behavior.  Per the Sultan, “Mess with the bull, you get the horns — and a two-sided bib number, yo!”  Mo, I applaud you for taking this corrective step.

“Pfft – I expected as much,” snapped The Beast when she learned of her conspicous placement at the tail of the entrants’ list. “I’ll get you, my pretty… and your little dog in the picture, too!”

The guest list for this year looks to be a bit larger as compared to the pic from last year posted here.  Should be a great run at South Mountain!  However, despite the expanded attendance, a most notable absence is that of Ed “Up Yours, Horton” Marsh.  Ed tells me he’s chosen his sea level digs of Charleston, SC over the elevation change and potential wintry mix of the Morganton area.  When pressed further he added, “if I have to make Rich Daileader look like crap again at one of these events, he’s probably going to off himself… or head back to the AT again with his tail between his legs.  I’ll just hang here in Chucktown and keep an eye on the college hotties – might be short pants weather! Hell to the yeah!”  Meanwhile, Ed continues his training for Mitchell and I assure you it is not a selfish pursuit.  Ed is experimenting with hydration packs for this season, efforting to determine which can carry Jack Daniels for an extended period of time without burning through the plastic bladder and wasting perfectly good “brown liquor” on the trail.  You go, Ed!

While Ed’s absence will be noted, things will be looking brighter with the addition of all-new birthday crowns for this year’s run!  A welcome accoutrement for a man with an SPF 0 haircut such as myself.  Again, well played, Mo!  Here’s a sneak peek at Saturday’s headgear.  Nice!