Firecracker

Yesterday, in the pouring rain, James, Marlon and I headed to Chinatown to run the annual Firecracker 5/10k race. I opted for the 5k since I've been under the weather lately and not running so much. James and Marlon were set on the 10k. The race commemorates the Chinese Lunar new year 4705 - the year of the Boar. As the celebrity (I didn't know who he was but I am sure he is famous somewhere) stated before the race, "The year of the Boar is sure to be either boring or all about you bringing home the bacon." Mmmmmm, bacon. Ironically, we had bacon that morning not even realizing it's connection to the lunar calendar.

As usual, we spotted other Disneyites amongst the ranks and promised to catch up with each other post race for the usual dim sum at Emperor's Palace. We waited in the rain for the start which is supposed to include the Lion Dance and 10, 000 firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. We were right up at the start. Soon enough, the announcer came forth and introduced a quartet of lovely young women to sing the national anthem. They were called Jazzmin and it was the best rendition of that impossible song I've heard in well, maybe forever. It was in fact jazzy. Then the Lion Dancers took center stage (or street as it were) and began the traditional dance of the 2 lions that, well, dance. Not sure what it is supposed to represent but it was really beautiful. They tossed an orange and a cabbage back and forth. It was kinda cool, in a salad sort of way. And then, the 10, 000 firecrackers were lit. And we were right next to them. That's a lot of firecrackers. Bits of exploding cracker hit our hats and faces. I had my iPod buds in just to absorb the noise, so it wasn't too bad. It was amazingly wonderful. So much smoke. The Lions danced all the while looking like two demented puppets in a fog.

Then they called the 5k runners to the line and off we went. I had a great spot up front and was able to run from the sound of the horn. Usually I'm in the back and have to wait and walk a good 2 minutes before the traffic has cleared enough to run. I felt incredibly energized because of the firecrackers and the Lions and the rain. I ran hard even as we started to ascend the first hill. I thought there was only one so I gave it my all. Oh no. There wasn't just one hill. Half the race was a hill. And not just any hill. Elysian Park hill. By Dodger Stadium. Big hill. But I ran it. And I kept running even when I thought I was going to pass out. It's only 3 miles I thought. And just when I thought I couldn't go any more, the down hill would start where I could really race, passing tons to people who were too nervous to go too fast in the rain. I was covered head to toe, so I figured it would be more fun to go fast and who cares if I take a header. But I didn't. And so I raced past the drummers and on to the finish. Just as I approached the finish, the 10k was starting. There was Marlon and James right up front and racing up to the hills, all bright and happy. We waved and shouted and on to the finish I went.

I raced in passing Kathleen Wilhoite.
She spent her time in the chute talking about how disappointed she was with her time. I offered that the hills were really killer and certainly affect your time if you don't train on them. Meanwhile, I was thinking that I was more than happy with my time. Since I didn't train for the race at all and still came out with my best time on a 5k to date: 31:50 on the race timer and 31:33 on my own timer. (Meaning about 20 seconds is how long it took me to pass the start line. This race is not chip timed so everyone has the same start time even though not everyone passes the start line together.) I was pleased.

And so I ate the complimentary banana and pineapple juice, but forgoing the wontons to save room for dim sum. I saw more Disney people and then made my way to the finish line to watch for the boys. James came in at 47:50 and Marlon at 50. Another Disneyite, Taralyn, found us and talked incessantly the rest of the time about her 5k in 45:47 and a brief stint at the Playboy channel. The never ending monologue put a damper on the less than yummy dim sum meal, but all in all it was an incredibly fun time. And that is probably the only time I will ever get into Emperor's Palace without waiting for a table. The trick apparently is to get there at 10am.
I'll definitely do it next year.