Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon

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Red is the Color of the Year of the Fire Monkey (Read 25 times)

Trent


Good Bad & The Monkey

    The universe around us is full of undulating colors.

     

    Each of the colors brings meaning and guides our way, leads our emotion. The colors black, red, qing, white and yellow correspond to the five elements of water, passion, wood, metal and earth. Each color has direction. Among these, red is the traditional bridal color, expansive, blooming, dynamic, enthusiastic, reaching upwards, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life. Red’s fire is powerful: fire creates earth; fire melts metal.

     

    Each color represents a celestial planet and a heavenly creature. Each color aligns with a season and a climate, an animal and a fruit. In the color red, we face south towards the planet Mars, seeing above us the vermillion bird (a flying monkey, indeed). Red brings us expansive energy. It brings us warmth, the heat of the summer and a hot climate. In red we see fire. Just as in fire we see red. From this we learn that red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during celebrations and other holidays and family gatherings. Red is even used as the color for envelopes when giving gifts on special occasions. The red color of the packet symbolizes good luck.

     

    Red is more than that. Red is the color of the tongue. Red is the color that brings sweat, and a quickening of the pulse. Red represents youth and feathered animals (again, the monkey!). Red gives us the passion of love and hate. Red is the color of blood up in the hills.

     

    In this year, we celebrate the year of the fire monkey. In this year, we are red.

     


     

    Some additional fortunes -

     

    - Folks have been asking where their friends and family members can watch them on the course. The Warner Parks have just made changes to the roads to limit the impact of people in the park, and now the front half of the park will be closed to cars except for race volunteers. However, the back half will still be wide open and accessible. With that in mind, the very best place for your people to watch you is actually just near the start/finish line. Runners take off and run across the field to the road. Where y’all go onto the road is a place where you will return at miles 11, 14 and 25.7. This is a great place to spectate. Ask race morning and we can show you.

     

    - Beginning to doubt your training? It’s about time. But don't worry. As I have said, you cannot train for Monkey. You however can not train for Monkey. And don't bother with a taper.

     

    - Volunteers are awesome, remember to tell them that when you see them out on the course!

     

    - The race drink this year will again be SWORD (http://drinksword.com). I know some of you think that you should not try a new drink on race day. If you had that kind of smarts, you would not be running this race. SWORD is great and very easy drinking. Don’t be scared. We will also have Huma (http://www.humagel.com) and Spring (http://www.myspringenergy.com) energy gels on the course for you.

     

    - As usual, if your fortunes have changed and you won't be able to make it to Monkey, please let me know so we don’t spend the days to come looking for you out on the course.

     

    - Packet pickup will be at the Gordon JCC on November 219, 2016 between 2pm and 4pm. The JCC is located at 801 Percy Warner Blvd, Nashville, TN 37148. This is less than 2 miles from the race start/finish area. Here is a map to the GJCC: http://tinyurl.com/MonkeyPacketPickup. Packet pickup will also be available race morning adjacent to the starting line.

     

    - For those of you who want a post-race shower but are checking out of your hotel room, you can return to the JCC located at 801 Percy Warner Blvd, Nashville, TN 37148. They will need you to show your bib and bring your own towel and soap. They may also charge you the $10 guest fee.

     

    - Bring food! We should celebrate the year of the fire monkey with a big feast. We ask that you bring some food and/or drink to share with the rest of the monkeys post race pot-luck style. As always, I will be making home-made monkey pumpkin pies. Lots of them. What will you bring?

     

    - Yazoo Brewing will provide us adult drinks after the race to those who are of the correct drinking age. Yazoo is good brew, local and tasty. If you want to enjoy some, please bring your ID with you to the race. You don't have to run with it, but once the beer is available after noon, you will need your ID. If you want to tweet your grand appreciation for this, use these tags: @YazooBrew and @yazoobrewmaster

     

    - Your registration info is posted on the Monkey's website AND here: http://www.runningahead.com/events/Monkey/participants. Please take a look to make sure it is correct.

     

    - PAY ATTENTION: we plan to have swag for sale at packet pickup and then post-race, with all proceeds going to support the Friends of Warner Parks, the charity that keeps Monkeyville spectacular. All this swag has already been bought, so anything you contribute you may consider a donation as far as I’m concerned. This year, we will have original and unique Hatch posters, extra Silipint cups, singlets and prior years' shirts. Hatch posters and cups are $10, Spirit of Nashville posters will be $20. I will have pictures of these on our Facebook site in the next week or so. Shirt prices will vary depending on which one you like. Cash appreciated. And cheap!

     

    - The website lists information about where there is lodging near the race (http://harpethhillsmarathon.com/Lodging.html) and restaurants where you can dine over the weekend. In addition, if you have further questions, feel free to holler or to put out a query on our message board: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/HHFMM/forum. If you post there, please don't mind the monkey business.


    "run" "2" "eat"

      amber is the colour of your energy.

      i find the sunshine beckons me to open up the gate and dream and dream ~~robbie williams