h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today, I ran for 5 km in my city's annual 'Jingle Bell Run ' to raise money for arthritis research, and what an adventure it was. I managed to run for 2 1/2 km of it, and I powerwalked the other 2 1/2 km. That said, I made it through the race in 37 minutes (I'm not sure if that's good or bad--I'm just an amateur runner), but I was shocked that my dad managed to keep up with me through the whole race. He only crossed the finish line 5 seconds after me! Poor old geezer-- he headed straight for the medicine cabinet for pain killers when he got home!

I have to say though, the best part of the race was just before it began as we were all getting ready at the starting line. Being a 'Jingle Bell Run ', of course Santa Claus was there, and he was standing next to a man with a megaphone as the race began. The guy with the megaphone was trying to tell us that we'd be signaled with a gunshot that the race had begun, but it didn't come out right... he ended up loudly announcing 'Santa's got a gun!' through his megaphone. The whole crowd was cracking up, saying 'Santa's got a GUN?!' It sounded like a bank robbery or something! I half expected him to continue by saying 'As you pass Santa at the starting line, give him ALL your money and no one gets hurt!'

All in all a fun time