Hot to Trot

The smell of funnel cakes, nachos, fried mozzarella, fried pickles and fried tacos lingers in the air. People from all walks of life come out to gather in one place. And parents torment their offspring by making them run in 100 degrees for a photo op. Oh yes, it's River Fest time.

The River Run falls on the first day of the week-long event and it's something Craig and I have enjoyed in the past. This year, we decided to save our energy (and the entry fee) and let Park show off his mad running skills in the Tot Trot. Like novice parents, we waited to register just 30 minutes prior to the event so that Park could get hot and tired before the big race. Honestly, I think it let him size up the competition and 20-yard course.

Here's Park taking a moment to focus and mentally prepare for what's coming after a pre-run drink of luke warm water.


So if you haven't experienced this mayhem before, it works like this: They start with the two-year-olds (that's Park) and have them line up 20 yards from the finish line with a parent/running coach. In my brief experience, this included pushy parents urging their kid to get the very best spot in front. (Might as well start getting used to this.)

Fine by us. There were way too many kids to attempt this insanity at one time, so we went in the third heat with the serious runners. Seriously, click on the photo and check out the girl to the right of Park in pink shorts listening to jock jams on her matching pink headphones on her (matching pink?) iPod. Cute but crazy!


By the time they got to us, Park was overwhelmed by the heat and crowds and could care less about the oversized t-shirt and shiny medal. While this looks like a sweet good luck hug, it was actually him wanting to be picked up and carried.


No, I did not carry him to the finish line. But we did take a leisurely stroll together and found Craig waiting for us with a medal that he refused to wear. (I can't blame him, it was the 2-mile/10k medal they gave the adults.)


The photos really don't do the event justice. Here's not-so-great video from my perspective.


Crazy parents looking for a good photo op. Next time we'll save the money and just take the dogs for a walk around the block ... and come down to River Fest for a funnel cake.