Ugly Sweater Run

My first 5K was the Ugly Sweater Run just before Christmas, and it was a really fun event!
It was organized well, and paying/​registering was easy. I picked up my race packet at the Sports Authority the day before, and it took under five minutes– that’s a good plan if you can do it, because the day-​of pick-​up line looked pretty long.
They had a lot of fun stuff going on before the run, and it was easy to figure out where to go. It wasn’t immediately obvious that they were starting the run in waves, which led to a little bit of the hurry-​up-​and-​wait phenomena, but I guess that may have been obvious if you were a more experienced runner. The course was well laid-​out. There were opportunities to take your picture with giant Christmas-​y inflatables along the route, as well as make a hot chocolate stop. Hearing Christmas music toward the end of the run was fun. The line for the free Sam Adam’s was short and the ID-​checking method was efficient. The run is not timed, which is probably a disappointment if you’re a hardcore runner but a relief if you’re new to it like me.
I have to say I am super impressed with many runners’ dedication to ugly-​sweater making. The golden retriever dressed up as a reindeer and the guys who shaved their chest hair into a Christmas tree and decorated it (in sub-​freezing weather) both get major props. I’ll have to step it up a notch from my reindeer pants next year.
Overall a very fun event– easy, efficient, family-​friendly AND beer-​lovers’ friendly, and a Christmas-​y way to burn calories before the holidays. I’d join in again next year, and hopefully run a little faster!