Green with Envy

I’m sporting my participant shirt from the Pharr St. Patrick's Day 5K today. It’s a keeper. 

I confess the things I appreciate the most about the event probably aren’t the most exciting to others. Those would be the restrooms and the misting fans. 

The Pharr Parks & Recreation Department included a hand sanitizer in the race packet. Those are always handy; however, it wasn’t necessary to carry for this event. The race was held at a football stadium with a a line of clean restroom stalls, which was a blessing to a runner with a nervous stomach.

A lot of runs I participate in have either port-a-potties or at parks with don’t have the best restroom facilities. (Note to volunteers, spectators and others: Use hand sanitizers. Use it often. Yes, you’re supporting people and giving them high-fives. Good. Apply hand sanitizer.)

I don’t know why more races in the RGV don’t setup the water-misting fans. (Maybe they're very pricey.) They’re great. I feel selfish when I stand next to them for more than a few seconds, but I could stay there, even when it’s not a typical melting South Texas day.

I tried to convince my sisters to let my toddler nieces join the kids’ run. I hear they’re fast. “No, Malena. They’re not going to win the mini iPad,” one said. Ah well.

That was the prize in the kids’ run. For the costume contest, I got my green kick lights for my shoes, some green-lit bracelets, a St. Patrick’s Day cowboy hat, a green sequin tie, and some makeshift boot covers for my compression socks. I strung some green clovers from my FlipBelt and used red temporary hair color. I amended a sash to read, "Kiss Me. I have an Irish In-Law." (Spoiler Alert: I didn’t win, hence the green with envy blog post title.)

I came in a slower than I was hoping, but my average pace seemed to improve, so that’s good. And I relearned a lesson (which seems to never stick), do NOT eat a banana afterwards. I need to make myself a sign for that.

Anyway, thanks for the run, Pharr.

Below is a link to the city's YouTube video of the event. For event photos, you can visit the city's website.