Page 19 - Jan_14

Race Recap
VS: What’s the best part of the race?

MF: I would say it’s the casualness of it. It’s almost
more of a social event rather than a racing event or

RI RA’S SANTA 5K RUN AND WALK
running event. It’s more about enjoying the holidays,
DECEMBER 1, 2013
although some people take it very seriously and there
were some fast times. Some people come to compete,
BURLINGTON
but others walked most of it and a few were drink-
ing coffee on the route. It’s really not about anything

else other than having fun. When you turn the cor-
IT’S A JOLLY DASH of red, white, and beards—the ner from the bottom of Main Street to go up Battery
Street, it’s nothing but red Santa suits for as far as you
Santa 5K Run and Walk, put on by Ri Ra’s Irish Pub.
There are no Grinches allowed: participants are re- can see. It’s an amazing sight.

quired to wear a Santa Claus suit. The beards, hats, VS: How was the breakfast?
jackets, pants, and belts were provided prior to the
MF: We had eggs, orange juice, sausage, and Canadi-
race. Racers were treated to an Irish breakfast, and an bacon since the parent organization for the event
all the proceeds went to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta for kids
with cancer. Mike Feulner, a 60-year-old retired state is in Canada. It was well organized and well done.
You could have breakfast at City Hall auditorium
employee from Duxbury, ran with a stroller, finishing where they had a lot of room or just go to Ri Ra. The
in the back of the pack of almost 1,400 Santas.
food was absolutely terrific and plentiful, and you
didn’t have to wait in line. There was even a full bar
VS: Have you done this race before?
MF: This is my second year. I did it the first year they available, and some people were drinking draft beer
before the event.
had it (2011), and then I volunteered in 2012.

Mike Fuelner and Debra Dooley at the Santa 5K.
VS: Would you do it again?
VS: How hard is it to run in a Santa suit?
MF: Absolutely. I’ll do it every year.
MF: The suits are nicely done, but they’re hard to run

in. They’re not exactly tailor-made, so the bottoms of are lining the streets and seeing all the Santa suits —Phyl Newbeck
my pant legs were dragging in the snow. They’re not really captures the event. Church Street is so beauti-
really heavy, but they are cumbersome.
ful this time of year, and we had the luxury of a little
snowfall. It’s a gorgeous route in a very nice spot that
VS: I’m guessing this is a family-friendly event?
we should never take for granted.

MF: Absolutely. It’s all about that. In fact, I did the Phyl Newbeck lives in Jericho with her
race with my girlfriend’s grandson in a stroller so I VS: Is it mostly local people?
partner, Bryan, and two cats. She is a
was at the very back of the pack. This race is about skier, skater, cyclist, kayaker, and lover
MF: Actually there were quite a few tourists, includ- of virtually any sport that does not in-
fun; it’s not about setting a personal record or for the ing some French-speaking visitors who travelled here volve motors. She is the author of Vir-
competition, but about capturing the essence of the for the event. There was a Canadian family running ginia Hasn’t Always Been for Lovers:

holiday season. Just being on Church Street and see- next to us with their stroller. There’s a nice mixture Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case
ing the amazement on the faces of the children who
of people.
of Richard and Mildred Loving.

Wax Demo

for Marathons

Wed, January 22nd @ 6pm

West Hill Shop — It’s free!

Veteran World Cup

service tech and glide specialist,
Drew Gelinas,
along with

Ryan Kerrigan,
two time marathon champion
and founder of VTXC marathon

team, will share tips on waxing
for marathons.

Exit 4, I-91, Putney Vermont westhillshop.com 802-387-5718
n n

JANUARY 2014
VTSPORTS.COM 19