October 31, 2005
yes, virginia, there IS an amazing hip!
bfbh, kurd, bev, get your kids, because this is a post for the youngin's and the children inside us all.
tonight, the plan for my halloween was to don the super hero costume and go for a run. i'd been giddy all week about tonight's adventures, since i haven't taken on my alter persona in a while. the trouble, though, was that the heat had set in and we had a high in the 80's. balacava hood, long sleeved shirt, tights and a mylar cape? just the ticket.
so, napoleon showed up at the house to play camera man and we were out the door by 4:45, with just enough light to get some simple movies and photos. on tap was an easy six mile run, and i mapped out a course that took me through some of the busiest intersections near the house. no sooner had i hit the streets and the honking and cheering started. it was like race day. i hammed it up as much as i could, with leaping and simulated flying. when i hit the first major intersection, i had to wait at two corners to cross the street, and all the while i pretended to be looking for bad-guys, talking into my forerunner and striking a super-hero pose.
the timing was perfect, as there were tons of cars with parents driving their kids home. people were honking and kids were waving and cheering, so i saluted and waved and acted like a big goofball for them. after a couple miles, i hit the first spot where napoleon was filming and he took a quick video clip as i ran by. by this point, i was feeling quite warm, and i was very glad i'd added my fuel belt as a pseudo utility belt. when the wind was at my back, the mylar cape kept me quite toasty.
napoleon drove up the course a little ways and caught another video clip of me as i neared the next major intersection. cars continued to honk and folks continued to cheer. every chance i got, i was leaping onto curbs and walls, looking about for bad-guys. as i ran past napoleon for a third time, he tried to catch me running on camera, but i was moving just too darn fast (since i was in super hero form).
a little while later, i stopped at another intersection and a young boy on a bike pulled up next to me. i greeted him, and he laughed, but i know he was really thinking, "what a nut job". but, the joke was on him, as about a quarter mile later, the chain came off his bike. i caught up to him, helped him put the chain back on and when he said "thanks", i replied, "just doing my duty, son". and off i ran.
by this point, it was getting dark and the cheering began to taper off, the run began to get hilly and hard, and i was completely drenched. i finished up the loop, met napoleon back at the house and stripped off the soaking wet super hero uniform. it felt great to get some fresh air, but no sooner had i taken it off and pulled the photos off the camera, then we realized that we didn't have any decent posed shots. so, back on went the sopping wet clothes and it was then that we realized that half of my six foot long mylar cape (courtesy of the ottawa marathon) was missing! at some point, it had been reduced to a short three foot cape. oh well, it had served it's billowy purpose well.
we took a couple photos, i got cleaned up and headed off to go trick-or-treating with the niece and nephew, dressed as a mild mannered computer geek. my super hero identity still secure.
Comments
Haha, Jeff!
Just the sort of thing I would expect from you. Truly priceless. Sounds like you had a great time doing it, too.
Posted by: reece at October 31, 2005 10:39 PMAH races to rescue boy with broken chain... I LOVE it! Can't wait to show your biggest fans in the morning... expect a call - RABBIT!!!
bfbh
Posted by: bfbh at October 31, 2005 11:08 PMThat is cool. I dressed up at my race on Sunday (and no one else did. It was fun.
Like the new footer too.
Posted by: Susan at November 1, 2005 3:37 AMFlippin Sweet! Glad to be a part of your diabolical scheme. Although next time you better hope you don't come across the Arthritic Hip!
Posted by: Rich at November 1, 2005 5:15 AMThat is one of the funniest, yet coolest things I have ever seen! Way to go super hero runner guy...
Posted by: Flatman at November 1, 2005 5:26 AMHold on, am I missing something? What does AH stand for?
(I can think of one thing, but it's probably not what you had in mind!!)
Posted by: Danny at November 1, 2005 5:46 AM"If you've got me, who's got you?" (Louis Lane to Superman as they ascend into the night air...)
Love the halloween run and the journal of it. Brilliant. Glad no one figured out your true identity. Whew.
Posted by: tracy at November 1, 2005 6:31 AMA man of duty is a boy forever. Is that how it goes?
I love this! Just don't break your hip, hip. (hooray?)
Posted by: Lana at November 1, 2005 6:47 AMThat? Is awesome. I love it.
Posted by: Dawn at November 1, 2005 7:02 AMAww! I'm jealous - you were having too much fun! I dressed up in 50's style poodle skirt just like Joni on Happy Days but since eccentric is my standard style no one noticed :(
Posted by: Deene at November 1, 2005 7:39 AMOh my son, my son, my son :) You are too cool!! I loved every bit of the blog and the videos were priceless. I've raised you well! To work hard, but have lots of fun doin' it!
RABBIT!!!!!
You are MY hero!
Love, Mom :)
That looked like so much fun!
Posted by: Rebecca at November 1, 2005 8:55 AMvery awesome! looks like you have indeed learned to have fun!
Posted by: Oldman at November 1, 2005 9:05 AMWow. Very brave. Very entertaining, too. I'm glad you had a good time, and that others clealy enjoyed the show!
Posted by: Alison at November 1, 2005 10:56 AMHa! At first I thought AH must stand for American HAM. Glad to see the Amazing Hip could save the world from the dastardly dysfunctional bike chain - who KNOWS what terrible chain of events could have evolved from that predicament...
And the mild-mannered geek cover - perfect!
Posted by: Karen in Calgary at November 1, 2005 12:52 PMHoly crap Jeff. I was near tears. Such bravey, such daring doo. Is your mutant ability have something to do with creating foam on your thighs? Ha! I think my mutant ability is growing long white hairs from my ear lobe. Boo yah.
Posted by: KAP at November 1, 2005 1:27 PMVery funny post. Those are the types of runs you remember long after all the high mileage weeks are logged in. It's great to stay in touch with your inner child!
Posted by: Donald at November 1, 2005 3:42 PMOh my!!!!!!!!! I had tears rolling down my face watching these. You are so priceless, Jeff! Derek (6) said: "Is he like, running to take off to fly, Mom??"
Posted by: beverly at November 1, 2005 9:30 PMJeff, that was hilarious! That's the stuff legends are made of. And don't ya' just know that kid is spreading the good news that there's a new hero in town.
Congrats on such a fun run!
Posted by: Brent B. at November 2, 2005 5:29 AMtehehehheee, I love it. Glad I'm not the only one who dressed up.
Posted by: Dawn (aka Pink Lady at November 2, 2005 4:39 PMhmmm...weird. Bloglines has been failing me. I re-subscribed and now I'm seeing you again (missed several days!) Anyway, this is pretty funny stuff Jeff! But you have great form even in that get up!
Posted by: Mark at November 2, 2005 7:50 PMomg i love it! you're a fast little super hero too!!!
the best part by far is the psuedo-utility-belt.
nicely done!
Posted by: alejandra at November 3, 2005 8:52 AMyou rock for doing somethng so zany. i love how you helped the little boy with his chain off. wish id been there to see it!
Posted by: partyrunner at November 3, 2005 9:43 AMWhat a great story. My husband and I also dress up but usually for a race when there are a bunch of fellow "nut jobs" out there. That way, we don't stand out too badly, but it certainly is fun. After all, isn't that what it is all about? Having fun?
Thanks for the visuals and the laugh. I hope you had as good a time during your run as I had reading about it.
Posted by: PuddyRat at November 3, 2005 6:57 PMMan, why don't I get ideas like that? Life doesn't have to be boring!
Posted by: Jack at November 4, 2005 4:08 AMLoved your post! Nice touch with the "just doing my duty, son" comment. :)
Posted by: Mia at November 4, 2005 7:05 AMHey, Big Bird, I peed my pants reading your post...
Posted by: KURD at November 4, 2005 2:43 PMthat was so funny dude. i was finally able to watch the clips. i love it!
Posted by: brent at November 4, 2005 9:16 PMSuper Hero's are needed by all ages. I am sure you put a smile on many people's faces that morning. Thanks for slowing down so cameraman could capture the event. You have a gift my son! Talent comes in lots of sizes and your bulky manly grace was in outstanding form that day.
Posted by: Lynell Darnall at November 5, 2005 7:39 AM