Marvellite Run

A threat of rain did, no doubt, keep a few runners indoors Monday night--home in the warmth of their living rooms, but all the fun Monday night was had in the Mapleridge neighborhood as a few hundred runners rambled up one street and down another admiring Christmas lights and holiday displays at the Marvellite Run.


This annual event has gone on since the 80s, and is named after one of our own--Mr. Marvin Winters, who was an original Marvellite runner, back when Christmas lights were a new concept. Three groups left out from our meeting place at All Souls Church. There was a 5 mile group comprised of mostly speedy runners, a 3 mile group, filled with mere mortal men and women of average pace, and a one mile group, made up of walkers, people who were nervous about impending rain, and folks who wanted to be first in line for pizza and desserts.

Runners started filing in around 5:30, although the official time was 6:00 PM.
Coach Kathy granted an interview to Fox 23. We runners--yeah, we're rock stars!!
Christmas fashions were on display. Festive hats, socks, and sweaters were worn by most.
Matt complimented his Santa Hat with a nice string of lights draped around his torso.
Laura's hat wiggled back and forth--and looked to be swiped from the set of a Dr. Seuss film production.
Darcy was styling, with Christmas PJ bottoms and socks.
A back view of Larry's hat, with poor Santa snugly lodged in the chimney. Nice.
These hairy legs and socks belong to Tom Robinson--but wait until you see his Christmas sweater!
Stormy, with his Dick Tracy hat, looks over Charlotte's shoulder while she tries to duck out of the frame.
Patty dons a Rudolph nose--very cutely, I might add.
Pat's hat also flipped back and forth. Would have looked better in a video.
(Can you tell I LIKE this hat???)

And now, the sweaters.
There were a lot of new faces, and I don't have names to everyone who wore festive sweaters. Most of the above competed in the Ugliest Christmas Sweater Contest.

But first, we got to RUN!!

After we all trickled back in, munched on pizza, candies, cookies, cakes, and pies, we rounded up a fine crop of contestants for the Christmas Sweater Contest. Watch the video below for a fine fashion show.


After a brief deliberation from a panel of impartial judges, awards were given. Each winner received gift certificates to RunnersWorld.Ameila nabbed the award for Prettiest Christmas Sweater. This should be no surprise, as she is a seamstress extraordinaire, known for blinging up race t-shirts as well as knitting hats, scarfs, and mittens, and very fashionable outfits for competitive equestrian riders. And yes, her sweater was very pretty. Unlike the one below.
Tom Robinson was very justly awarded the prize for Ugliest Christmas Sweater. Tom's sweater had glitter, sequins, and a degree of tackiness beyond People of WalMart. His ensemble was complimented with the essence of old lady perfume. His brother Vinny told Tom there was a Christmas song that was appropriate for his choice of garments: Deck the Halls--particularly that line that goes--"Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la. "
And finally, Susan won the prize for Best Christmas Sweater. Hers was one that even this writer/photographer (and I'm a guy) would wear.

It was a fun evening, and hats and gloves were collected and will be donated to children at the Eugene Field Elementary School or Family and Children Services. Thank you to all who donated and all who came and ran with us.