LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Since the weather moved from blustery cold to delightfully comfortable, race event advertisements have made a steady incline.
Well, let me throw one more your way. Only this time, I will give you 10 reasons why you should not ignore this marketing scheme for the Langley Chiefs' Group 5K Run/Walk May 24 at 8 a.m.
10) Brown-nosing opportunity. This may not have been a productive quarter for you, so why not show your boss you can be a team player? Energize the office with you gung-ho attitude.
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) Justify those must-have sneakers. Those overpriced, yet extraordinarily popular kicks were calling your name. You shelled out the cash, yet they've seen more of your closet than the road. It's time to lace them up and let loose of buyer's remorse.
8) Indulge in the glory. Perhaps your friends fell victim to the winter blues and holiday delights, but not you. You hit the track, treadmill and trail. Now, show off those swimsuit-ready legs in that oh-so-flattering PT uniform.
7) Make room for Memorial Day munchies. Cook-outs, bonfires and days at the beach present ample opportunities to increase your caloric intake. At least if you start the weekend out with a fat-burning run, you can justify that second helping of potato salad.
6) Ants in your pants. Warm weather can make desk jockeys antsy. Why not channel that energy into a brisk stroll and kill a few hours from your workday at the same time?
5) Catch up with friends. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, full-time student or work what seems like 100 hours a week, socializing is not always an option. Grab your friends, travel mugs of coffee, and gab it up on the race path.
4) Friendly competition. There could be several reasons for hyping up that internal Olympian inside you. Perhaps you want to shave off minutes from a personal race record, or form a team to show the squadron across the street who's boss, as you lead a team of misfits through the finish line chanting "We are the champions, my friends!"
3) Vitamin D does a body good. Swimsuit season is here and that pasty skin reflects more light than any fighter pilot's aviators can handle. It's time to get out from under fluorescent office lights for 20+ minutes of bronzing, while also obtaining a daily dose of Vitamin D.
2) An opportunity to "speed" date. With just more than three miles of pavement, you have ample time to meet that special someone. If you hit it off, you have a running buddy. If you don't, kick it into sprint mode and try again. By the time you run through the shoot, you have either met your solemate (pun intended) or left several people in your dust.
1) Your money comes back to you. Your $20 pre-registration donation (or $25 on race day) gets you a catchy race T-shirt, Under Armor swag bag, post-race refreshments, and a professional racing experience. Your donation is then added to a pot of money to support base programs. It's a win/win situation!
Now run to the nearest "chief" and sign up for next week's race. If you want to save your energy for the race, download a registration form at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/langley.chiefsgroup.run and think about turning it tomorrow. Beware, as you mull over decision, your friends will be scooping up your free T-shirt and swag bag. But, hey... no pressure.