In spite of what the thermometer reads, hundreds of people running through the streets of Downtown Raleigh wearing kilts, costumes, and decked out in every shade of green means spring must be right around the corner. The St. Paddy’s Run Green 8K is one of my favorite races each year. I love the clever costumes, I love how happy everyone appears to be as they run down the street, I love the sound made by the pounding of so many feet, and I love the extra-special treat of being able to watch and cheer on the runners from my own front porch.
The costumes this year seemed a bit more bland than in years past, maybe because the day was chilly and windy. Besides an almost-but-not-quite-world-record number of kilts, there were plenty of tutus, wigs, and face paint. My favorites included an outfit with a pair of kneesocks that had “BEER” in large letters going down the calf, a very big man not wearing a shirt but carrying a giant sword, and a guy running in work boots. Ouch!
Here’s a short sampling: