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The Running of the Green

Today Mr. P and I ran the Ras na hErieann 5K running race in Somerville. The race’s website claims that it is “the most genuine Irish race this side of the Atlantic… a celebration of traditions dating back centuries.” Yes, because when I think of Ireland, I think of 5000 ruddy-haired people wearing green-feather boas, hats shaped like beer mugs, and headbands with shamrock boppers as they parade around town via a quick gait of sustained strides, sweating and grunting as the onlookers chant “Beer! Beer! Beer!” to motivate them to the finish line. Ah, tradition.

I finished the 5K in just under 30 minutes, not a bad time considering the crowd congestion as well as a digestive issue with my morning oatmeal. Immediately after finishing the race, I joined a stampede of runners for the free post-race hydration (sadly, only water and a drink called owater which contains all these electrolytes, antioxidants, and other ingredients that won’t get me shit-faced).

Honestly, the coolest race t-shirts ever: Black with a green and orange celtic knot across the front. I think 50% of the runners were only there for the t-shirts. The other 50% were excited by the prospect of the post-race craic, which was a pub crawl through Somerville that probably got pretty wild pretty fast considering everyone’s stomach was empty and it is the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day. Copious drinking is obligatory, because otherwise, one’s pride in their ethnic heritage may be questionable.

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