Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Hello, everyone, Gritty and Salentations, Welcome back to another episode
of the Back of the Back podcast Second Went. I'm
a host, Kywalker. Thank you so much for tuning in.
We are in week two of our Spooky Fall Run
If You Dare series. So yeah, I thought it'd be
fun for this time of year. So last week we
talked about how fall is like pr season and how
it is like just custom made for you to run
(00:33):
your best race. We're gonna do a little bit opposite
of that this week. We're gonna have a little different
approach to fall racing. Now, we do know in fall racing, Okay,
you get some of the world marathon majors, you get
some really big, serious important runs. You've got the Chicago Marathon,
which is coming up two days from when this airs,
So good luck to everyone. If you're in Chicago, you
(00:54):
probably won't hear this until you're done. I mean, unless
you're in Chicago roaming around and you decide to play
this podcast near ear while you're touring the Windy city.
Somehow doubt that's the case. We just got done with
the Berlin Marathon. Oh but yeah, all your Chicago runners,
best of luck, enjoy that race. Berlin Marathon has taking place,
that's done. New York City Marathon is on the horizon,
and then there are a ton of other really big
(01:15):
important races going on in the fall because it's PR season. Right, Okay,
well this week we're gonna take a little different approach.
We are not gonna be talking prs. We are not
gonna be talking serious racing. We're not gonna be talking
about running your best race today. We're gonna have fun.
We're gonna dive into the weird and spooky races that
(01:36):
that can make running just kind of a fun thing
where it is not overleas serious and it's noth I
gotta do great. No, let's let's have some fun. We're
gonna we're just gonna talk about some fun ones. So
running in like the Halloween stuff, like I'm wearing the
shirt for Monster Dash, that is more fun, more community,
and less pressure. If you are dressing up in a
(01:58):
costume to run a race, you're clearly not taking that
race very serious.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
You're out to have fun, You're out to be seen.
You're out to have people comment on your costume and
for you to comment on others. I actually did run
a racing costume once a full blown costume. Funny thing
was it wasn't even a Halloween themed race. It was
a Valentine's Day themed race. But that's where I was
able to help Andrew the cac cosplay runner. She's mind
(02:24):
blank kc cosplay runner say that three times fast. And
I was part of his costume. He was an up
lumpa and so I was Willy Wonka. And when you
do run in a costume, the race just has a
really different field to it. You really can't take it
too serious. I was running the race carrying a cane
because I was Willy Wonka wearing a top hat. Thankfully,
(02:45):
because of the size of my gigantic melon, it stayed
in place for the entire run. It was a little
sweaty afterward, but it was a February race, so thankfully
not too hot and sweaty out there. But you really
can't take that stuff overly serious. It is just for on.
So that is kind of what we're going to talk
to today. You know, costumes they break up the seriousness
that a lot of runners feel and it kind of
(03:07):
levels the playing field maybe ish, you know, like again,
if everyone's in a costume, you're probably not all gonna
be running your best time, even maybe some of the
elites are deciding to take a day off and just
kind of have fun and take it easy. So costumes
are kind of a good way to loosen it up,
to break the tension or tightness at some of the races.
They also can bring more spectators in. You can have
(03:29):
more spectators at a race. You might even get some
local media attention. Again, all things that can be that
can be helpful if you're a race director. It can
be helpful just to have more fun. But yeah, like
dressed up spectators can make it a lot more fun.
You have things to look at as you're kind of
running along the course, or you know, you get a
very wide variety at the finish line show we say
(03:53):
of people, they're dressed up in various costumes, and so
then you're more running for joy and.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Less for time. And I'm sorry, I keep looking at
my watch.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Of course, the moment I start recording, I'm getting blown
up by one of the back.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Of the backheads.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
But that's okay, we still durn She'll be fun. Okay,
So what I thought we might talk about here just
for a little bit, And I know This is gonna
be a pretty short episode because you know what, it's Friday,
It's Chicago Marathon weekends, Columbus Day weekend. If you have
a job where you're off on Monday, I'm not gonna
take up a lot of time. And we're talking them
about just the fun thing. Let's go ahead and go
through the top ten Halloween fun themed races that are
(04:29):
out there. Okay, and of course the biggest one. And
I know people who have done this one, except it
was weird, and someone correct me if I'm wrong. This
race ran already. I think it ran like the last
weekend in August, but it was the Disneyland Halloween Half
Marathon ten K and five k. I'm pretty sure they
did that at the end of August. I don't know
why they're in such a hurry and they don't want
to save it to October. Maybe October is a big
(04:52):
theme park season. Maybe there's a lot of people going
in for things. They don't want to shut it down.
But the big one is the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon
ten k and five k, so of course Halloween themed.
You've got the magical setting that is Disneyland. This is
the California one, and then of course you have all
the characters out and about doing the race. You know,
you get you Mickey Mouse and you Mini Mouse sing,
you Donald and Goofy, your Pluto and Huey, Dewey and Louis.
(05:15):
You got all of them out there. So that's kind
of one of the big Halloween themed ones, even if
they did run it in August.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Number two is.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
The Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon. They listens as a
costume friendly and costume friendly race and a festive atmosphere.
I've not heard of it, but you know what, you're
Miami Beach Halloween like, Yeah, it's got to be so
scary running along the ocean in beautiful weather and someone
probably with a drink in their hand. Sounds awful. Number
(05:45):
three the Provo Haunted Half Marathon in five k So Provo,
that's us, all right.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I think that's huge.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Ah. They listen as a downhill course through a canyon,
and then I guess they have a spooky tunnel that
maybe they decked out, and then they also have an
official costume contest. So that actually sounds kind of fun
if you are looking for a half marathon Halloween themed
maybe Provo, Utah's where you need to go. Number four
the Halloween Havoc five K, ten k and half. This
(06:13):
is in Fountain Valley, California. It is a looped course
and they say it has spooky finish line.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Fun.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
So again, another one out in California. That's two out
in California. Still never done a race in California. Can't
say that it's high on my priority list, but at
some point in time I'm gonna have to knock out
a race in California. Number five the Great Go Halloween Race,
and this is in Saint Louis. Multiple distances, costume contest,
can't contest candy and crowd energy. Again, if you want
(06:43):
to go run in Saint Louis, there you go. Yeah,
I have an option. Number six Haunted Half Marathon in relay.
This is in Kingsport, Tennessee. They say this is a
long running and spooky tradition. So apparently this race has
been around for a long time. Let's see, I did
Memphis Tennessee, so I have run Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Not bad.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
You definitely gotta be ready for hills. If you're doing
anything in Tennessee, there's gonna be hills.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Number seven the New York City Runs Hunted Island five
K and ten k, so you actually have to take
the ferry ride out, I think to Staten Island and
they say it as ghoulish vibes. But if you can't
do Big Boy in New York City Marathon, this, I
guess would at least give you a piece, just the
tiniest piece of maybe what you can expect doing of
race like that. I mean it is just five k
(07:32):
and ten k. Number eight the Witches Wave Halloween Run.
This is it says a beachside spooky run, five K,
ten k and half on the sand, and it doesn't
it doesn't tell me where it is. But could you
imagine running a half marathon on sand? Yeah, that's all
the No thanks, I am no interested in doing that.
(07:54):
I have enough trouble walking on sand as it is.
That's just a different kind of workout for your legs altogether.
I really I don't think that I need to be
running at all on the sand.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
No thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Number nine the Scary Run, and that's in Washington. It's
a five k, ten k in fifteen k with monsters.
And this is one of the ones that has zombies
chasing runners.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
So you know, they blow, they blow the whistle, you
start the race.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
You got some I don't know, maybe a run club,
paid actors whatever, who then start to chase the runners
through the course. I think something like that could be
kind of fun. I know, here locally, I don't know
if they do it anymore. So if you're familiar with
the area and you have been to the Renaissance Festival,
they used to do an event out there where you
had two teams. You had like Team Zombie and Team
(08:41):
survivor Team Human whatever, And I don't think it was
a race per se. It was more like a big
game of tag, like you had to get from here
to here without the zombies getting you. I don't think
they do it anymore. I actually think that's something to
die with the Rona. But it was something that they
had there. So there's still one of those races, the
Scary Run in Washington, or you can get the zombies
(09:02):
chasing the runners, you know, just an idea for any
local or heck, even national race directors. I think something
like that could be a lot of fun if you
made it a five k and then get a run club. Okay,
maybe even you get the Chasing Rabbits run Club, who
all decide, okay, this run club for this year, and
it can move around. This run club are the zombies
(09:25):
and everyone else who suns.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
It for the race.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
You are the survivors, and then you just have fun.
You have a five k and look, it's not like
the zombies. Especially I am a member of the Chasing
Rabbits run Club, and if I am a zombie, yes
I will. I will wear the tetter clothes and I'll
dress the makeup up and maybe if I catch one
of the runners, I'll tap them on the shoulder and wave,
you know high. It's not like we're gonna be tackling
people out there. That's not gonna work. But it's just
(09:49):
kind of fun, you know. You know, the kids would
eat that up. You get the kids at the five
k and be like, oh, look at all the scary
zombies back there.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
You got to run, little Timmy, or the zombies are
gonna get you.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
And of course it's bombies back there, and the kids
would have fun. Except the only problem, now that I'm
just spewing this out off the top of my head,
there's already a big enough problem with the kids running
and who just directly turn their head and don't watch
where they're going. It's usually when they trip or run
into someone else. So maybe them constantly turning behind their
turning their heads behind them to look for zombies wouldn't
(10:20):
be the best idea.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I don't know. This idea clearly needs a little fleshing out,
but could be fun. Could be fun.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And then number ten is the Halloween Trick or Trot Run,
and this is in San Antonio, Texas five K, ten
K and half. They have costume contest as well, and
they give out candy along the race, so I think
any one of those would be fun. Here in this
area we have the Monster Dash. Okay, that's wearing that shirt.
I'm signed up for Monster Dash at the end of
(10:47):
October since I can't be going to Washington for Marine
Corps boo. Let's see there is also it's not Halloween themed,
but here we have the Cliffhanger Run, So shout out
to the Cliffhanger Run. I actually not doing that one
this year, done it before doing it this year. Sorry,
but I actually I think it's the same day as
a Monster Dash, but it is a beautiful run in
Kansas City, Missouri.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
You go along this tree lined.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Cliff course, so you know, kinding to your left. There's
a running most of this. You don't want to go
off the left side of the road or you're going
really far down a hill really fast. But it is
a beautiful course. You normally get that when the leaves
are changing colors, so the course has leaves on it.
It's beautiful. Usually you get a nice cool day Cliffhanger run.
If you haven't done it, I recommend it if you're
looking for a race to do. If you don't want
(11:31):
to do Monster Dash, which is in Overland Park, Kansas,
if you want to keep it over on the Missouri side,
you do Cliffhanger.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Because it is a beautiful run. Let's see.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
There's also the Spooky Sprint that's coming up here relatively
soon sometime this month. That's a Bodies Race Company thing.
But we have the Spooky Sprint. At one point in
time they offered five ten and a half. I think
they're just down to five and ten. Not sure, not
signed up for it. Not doing that one this year.
I think those are kind of the big fall races,
at least within the local area of you know, Kansas City,
(12:03):
I do believe if I'm missing any I doth apologize.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
What do we have coming up?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Let's say we've got the Dog one this weekend, then
that little thing called the Garman Kansas City Half Marathon,
not Fall themed, but running the Fall. We've talked about
that one once or twice. After that Monster Dash, after that. Okay, yeah, yeah, okay,
so we've got one. We've got one Halloween themed race
on our schedule, and then everything else is just normal
(12:28):
race stuff. But again, fall season, it's going to be beautiful.
If you want to get a Halloween themed race, You've
got Spooky Sprint, and you've got Monster Dash here locally,
and there's other ones. I don't think they're really cashing
in on the Halloween thing. Halloween's on a Friday this
year too. Heaven help you if you've got a race
on I don't know November first, because you might be
a little full on candy if you're out trick or
(12:51):
treating or doing whatever with a Friday Halloween.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
But what's whatever.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
So these races can impact you, you know, in different ways.
For the runners, this takes the pressure off your times, okay,
it can give you a little bit of joy and
introduces you, It introduces new runners to kind of the
fun part of this world. Okay, so you might get
a lot of these Halloween themed races are like the
Thanksgiving race or Christmas themed race, where you might get
(13:16):
a lot of families or one time a year runners
or people just who want more of the laid back atmosphere.
You might get some newbies out on the course with you,
which is great. Maybe you convert them. Maybe then they
get to be die hard like us and we're you know,
they're at every start line too. But it definitely takes
the pressure off because again, you're running in costume. You
might have makeup on your face, and since we are
not all the casey cosplay runner, sometimes we don't you
(13:38):
want to pain on our face running in our eyes.
I don't know how he does it, but yeah, it
takes a lot of the pressure off of race. It's
just for fun for you know, every day average Joe Schmo's,
you know, not as crazy rabid runners. These races can
turn workouts into memories, bring communities together, and make ordinary
runs more playful. I like that it could be playful.
And then running running in costume with themes, it can
(14:03):
make the sport more inclusive, says this, I don't know
do you think do you think running in a costume
can make it more inclusive?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Could be?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Hey, if I could think of a good example of that,
i'd use it, but I don't have one. How you
find these races really easy. You can go to run
sign up and find them. You can check any of
the local running stores. You can listen to this podcast,
which you're doing right now.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Good on you. That's what you should do.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And then also, if you like the themes, travel around,
find a race in a different area that might be
fun for you. Again, just kind of a good way
to expand your resume of running in places that you
have run and races you've done.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
It's nice. I really do enjoy the Traveling.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Race because it's something new, it's different at least it's
a new town to see. And if you want to
do something for fallen Halloween, I recommend that you do. So. Really,
that's all I got. Like I told you this was
gonna be a quick one. It's a holiday weekend.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
I'm already getting it.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Out because I had to finish watching the ted Lasso
series for like the fifth time, and I was on
the last episode, and I love that show man, I
love that show.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
It's just it's great.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
So next week on Second Wind, as we continue this
on get your costume ready, but get your costume ready
to maybe I don't know, glow in the dark. Because
next week is gonna be all about night time running.
So the joys, the pitfalls, the safety, the things you
can do with the enjoyment, the non enjoyment. We're gonna
try and break down night running next week.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
That's what we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
So again this weekend, we will be at the Run
for Pause five k on Saturday, benefiting the I never
remember the name, the Lance Tucker Memorial, But anyway, all
about dog rescue.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Which is great.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I know I didn't say that right, and I don't
have it in front of me, so sorry, just gonna
fumble through that. So we've got the Run for Pause
this weekend and then that's it for the podcast. We
don't have any other races. We do have a guest
coming up on Monday's episode, so make sure you're there
for that, and then a weekend after that, Garment Kids
City Half Marathon. And remember I think this Monday, did
I say this Monday? I think I said this Monday,
(16:03):
we are going to be I don't think I did. Okay,
so let let's talk real quick. So for Garmin Kansas
City half Marathon, maybe I did, maybe I didn't. Second
guessing myself and you get to listen, there's going to
be a celebration for the last hour of the full marathon. Okay,
they're going to call up the sixth hour of celebration.
They have asked all the different various run clubs around town,
(16:24):
including the Chasing Rabbits run club, to come and be
out there for the last hour of the race. Sounds
freaking awesome. So this is basically from noon to one pm.
This is the last hour that the course stays open
for the back of the pack full marathoners to finish
up their run. They want people there to celebrate them
in to not have it be a bareren finish line
(16:48):
as people cross. Well, of course they came to the
right person with that.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
I am in.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
I will be there. We are staying for the last
hour of the full marathon. Yes, I'm doing the half marathon,
so I'll have time to have my barbecue sandwich, have
an adult beverage, get some water, and then be ready
to be at the finish line to cheer in those
people during that six hour celebration. I invite you, I
implore you. I begeth of you join me, all right,
(17:15):
come out, hang out with me. Let's cheer these people on.
Let's get those people in during that last hour of
the full marathon. If you've ever been one of those people,
you know who are coming in after doing twenty six
point two and everything is gone, you know how deflating
that can be. We're not gonna let them do that
at the Garment Kansas City Marathon. Okay, we're gonna be there.
We're gonna cheer them on. I've already bought well, actually no,
(17:37):
I did not buy. I bought some stickers for the
Chasing Rabbit run Club. But we have bells that those
stickers are gonna be on, donated by our buddy Cody.
Thank you Cody very much. So we're gonna have cow bells,
they're gonna stickers. We're gonna celebrate at the finish line
of all the people coming in in that last hour.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So let's be there.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Okay, be there, b square everyone in Chicago. You will
have time to to recover. I doubt you're gonna do
much at Kansas City just a week later, So come
on out and celebrate with us, Come ring some bells
and get those people into that last hour. Okay, okay,
And again this is more for the Chasing Rabbits Run
Club than it is for the Back of the Pack podcast.
I just happen to wear both hats. But no, we're
(18:16):
gonna be out there as the Chasing Rabbits Run Club.
So if you are, if you've ever come out to
Discourse Brewery and been at one of our runs, there's
only been four of them so far, but hey, we've
got another one coming out this week. Then I want
you to come out there, please join us, and let's
bring those people in. Cool cool, So we're gonna have
the guest on Monday. We've got the garment Kanas City
(18:37):
coming up, We've got the six Hour celebration coming up,
and then we are just trucking through this fall season series,
all of it. It's just it's crazy how fast everything
is going. Now, if only the weather we cooperate. We
had a couple nice days, now it's getting hot again.
Jaez second it, So anyway, that's gonna do it. Short episode, man,
I'm not gonna I'm not gonna ramble on anymore. This
has been another episode of the Back of the Pack
(18:57):
podcast Second Wind. I'm your host, ky Walker. It is
my pleasure as always, everyone, have a safe week of training,
enjoy your holiday weekend. Good luck to everyone in Chicago,
and we will see you next week