Kicking Off Turkey Day with the Turkey Trot

What was my time in the 2008 Arlington Turkey Trot 5K? I ran the whole thing.

When you're as lousy a runner as I am, that's the only measuring stick that counts. And with temperatures in the mid-30s at starting time and the race almost entirely up and down gentle hills in Lyon Park and Ashton Heights, the Turkey Trot seemed more like the Gobble Hobble. But I finished.

The most amazing thing? You've never seen a happier group of people who are simultaneously sweaty and freezing. A cheer went up at the start and a big crowd hung out long after the finish. People came out to cheer us all along the parade route, with a puppy escaping its owners at one point and weaving through the runners like Barry Sanders in the open field. There was even a house on Fillmore Street handing out cups of beer to the runners, good for a laugh in the race's last mile.

I was up at 6am to help get runners registered with a group from CRM. Combined with the 4,000 calories worth of food I'll be consuming and 9 hours of football, Vegas has set the line of when I pass out on my couch at 8pm. Bet the under.

Staying in Town for Thanksgiving?

The Green Miles' family is based mostly in Massachusetts, and it didn't take very long into my time living in Arlington to realize that no matter if I drove, flew, or took the train, making the schlep north twice in a month - for both Thanksgiving and Christmas - made the holidays much less enjoyable.

This year I'm staying in town for Thanksgiving and heading to Massachusetts for Christmas. When I tell people I'm staying home for Thanksgiving, people usually look at me like I'm a lonely shut-in. A young professional recently wrote a Washington Post column portraying herself as some kind of pioneer for daring to spend her holiday in DC.

But the holidays in Arlington are among the most fun times of the year. Of course, Christmas brings lots of holiday lights and greatly reduced traffic. But a lesser-known fact is that the night before Thanksgiving is a huge party night -- anyone who's young, single, and staying in Arlington for Turkey Day will be found out in Clarendon, Shirlington, or Pentagon Row on Wednesday night.

My Wednesday night will end early this year as I'm waking up before dawn on Thanksgiving Day, volunteering to help with registration at the Arlington Turkey Trot. I'll then be running the 5K race through Lyon Park and Ashton Heights.

And of course, the 350 calories I burn while running the 5K will balance out the 3,000 calories I consume watching football ... right? OK, maybe not.

Thank You!

Just wanted to make a big shout out to all of the volunteers who came out in the rain on Saturday to clean up the yards at 5 houses for people with disabilities. You guys did a fabulous job despite less than ideal conditions.

For those of you who didn't participate, check out our upcoming volunteer events - we have at least 3 more coming up in 2008!

Monthly Meetup at Old Arlington Grill

Biggest Meetup of 2008 to get ready for the biggest Volunteer Project of 2008!

Arlington Community Role Models - new name soon to be announced - is hosting their monthly happy hour for community minded 20 and 30 somethings in the Arlington area tomorrow night at the Old Arlington Grill (connected to Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse).

The fun starts at 7 pm and with over 30 people already RSVP'd it should be a good time.

We will have a couple of guests - one from Cherrydale Health and Rehabilitation as well as one from Community Residences.

We will also have sign ups for upcoming activities like Saturday's Community Residences Cleanup; the Turkey Trot 5K; Pictures with Santa and Elves; and the OAR Wrapping Party.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Short Lines and Free Food - NO EXCUSES!

If you haven't voted yet... do it! Now's a great time, the lines are quite short at most polling places.

And as you've probably heard there are multiple places around the area giving out free food (most will give it to you whether you produce an I voted sticker or not because of legal issues).

Here's some highlights:
Starbucks - free coffee
Daily Grill - (Tyson's and DC)
Ben and Jerry's - (Fairfax Corner Shopping Center - off 66)
California Tortilla - free taco - Courthouse Plaza, Fair Lakes, Oakton...

Get more information here from WTOP
or HERE from Going Out Gurus Blog

Report from the Poll at Arlington Central Library

The Green Miles is working the polls for Arlington Democrats this morning! I'm manning a relatively quiet spot so I thought I'd post these pictures.

The line is gradually getting a bit shorter now (at 8:15am), but at 7:30 this morning, here's what the wait looked like.

The line snaked out the Central Library auditorium, through the back door, down the back steps ...

Past the tennis courts, around the corner ...

Through the parking lot past the baseball diamond ...

And halfway down the block towards Washington Boulevard ...

At times this morning, the line has been up to two hours long. But I haven't heard a single complaint.

Cushiest job of the day -- election monitor. Really? You're worried about voter fraud here? Come on. This is Arlington. We get it done.

Which Party Are You (..going to..)?

So we know that young people in Arlington generally love politics and love an excuse for a party... so tomorrow night should be huge!

Here's a small sampling of how some people will be partying:
The Arlington Young Dems, Arlington County Democratic Party, and the Joint Campaign are teaming up for one big shindig at Baileys in Ballston. Party starts at 7 pm.

The Arlington GOP will be watching the results come in at Mister Days in Clarendon.

NOVA & DC Urban League Young Professionals are at Bistro Bistro in Shirlington starting at 6 pm.

And then from the Going Out Gurus blog...
Busboys and Poets is hosting an election night party which will be heavy on the Democrat side.
They will apparently have "14 political cocktails on the menu, including the "Delaware Dude" for Joe Biden and the "Todd-Todd Palin" for the first dude of Alaska."

Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse will be showing election returns on the big screen. 20 beers on tap and who knows who will show up!


Let us know if you hear of other Election Night Parties in Arlington.