RC Cola & Moon Pie

If you're from around these parts then you know all about RC Cola and Moon Pies. Put those two together and you've got yourself a tasty snack and thirst quencher as you sit on the porch after cutting the grass. Not that I've done that in awhile, but I'm not ashamed to say it's part of my not-so-storied past.

I bring this up because this past Saturday in Bell Buckle, Tennessee there was the RC Cola & Moon Pie 10-Miler. This running race is organized by the Nashville Striders and held in conjunction with the 12th Annual RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival. There were 779 people to compete at the start line at 7:00 AM.

This was my first time to attend a running race in person. I know a lot of people who run for fitness and a few who race occasionally. Running is a lot like cycling, but their sub-culture is much bigger than ours. Below is the overall winner Jacob Carrigan who sprinted in after averaging 5:41 per mile.















I didn't run in the race, but I did walk around looking at all the festival booths. The best find of the day was this coffee shop in the middle of all the action.

Look in the reflection of the front window and you can see my machine leaning against the pole. Look closer into the "open" sign area to read the sign posted along the sidewalk. Don't worry, I didn't break the law.




Of course Emmys Cafe gets my vote as the best spot from which to watch the race, which was right at the end of the finish line. The mocha wasn't bad, but you won't find soy milk in Bell Buckle!









I bring this up not only because it was a cool experience, but also to share an idea of mine. I am thinking of putting on a running race in conjunction with either the criterium series or a race held in 2007. I would offer up very respectable prize money, pay deep, and finally give all those runners something to race for besides a small plaque! Not that there's anything wrong with trophies, but cash money is a big motivator for many top athletes.

Merging the two competitive racing cultures would be a good fit I believe, and would offer both groups a chance to see what the other is all about. Who knows, maybe we can lure a few runners to hop on a bike and really test those legs!