Alameda Runners – Get After It!

I went out to take some pictures for the nice ladies at Picnic Dash productions this morning.  The race was held in Golden Gate Park which is always a great place for an event.  The flowers are always out in Golden Gate Park where the chilly, damp, winter air gives the place a wonderful smell.  Most of the other Picnic Dash races are held by the warming hut in Crissy Field, under the Golden Gate Bridge.  It does not matter which location you pick for a run, they all feel like family picnics.

Today’s race was a chilly affair with a good turnout of about 100 people.  Not all races are all day events with thousands of people.  There are plenty of events that are happy to have 100 people show up for the race.  I encourage everyone to try both types of events.  Today’s race was a family friendly event in the park, complete with cupcakes at the finish line.  I did not race but I mooched a cupcake anyway.  It is very difficult to put on a race of any type.  The race organizers usually do this as a labor of love.  When you see the race organizer, thank them for putting on the event.  In the one of the above pictures, the event organizer is delivering a cupcake with a birthday candle to a participant who is celebrating a birthday on race day.  That is so cool.

Did I mention that I was there to take pictures?  The pictures are in chronological order.
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3
Album 4

The bamboo bottle is a really nice bottle.  I don’t know who came up with the idea of using bamboo to insulate a glass bottle or why it took so long but it is a great idea.  I like to use it as a coffee cup or a protein shake glass.  The nice thing about glass is that is cleans so well there is no taste carry over.  The glass is heavy enough to use as a weapon if someone gives you a hard time.  Here are my thoughts.  The sippy straw is not shown out of contempt.
Good:

• The glass liner does not change the taste of my drink
• The glass liner cleans very well
• The lids form a tight seal without the use of an O-ring
• Three lids – one for drinking hot stuff, one for cold stuff and one for sealing
• It is made in the most environmentally responsible way possible with our current technology
• It looks good
• It has a sippy straw

Bad:

• It will make you feel dumb when you put it in the dishwasher with the bamboo insulator attached
• You can’t carry it in a bike carrier or a runners pouch
• The sealing lid does not seal very well without using an O-ring that you have to find yourself
• It is small
• The bottles are hard to find
• It has a sippy straw conspiracy
• There are 3 lids to keep track of.

I like the Bamboo bottle.  Sure it is heavy, bulky, hard to find, needs to be taken apart to clean and you have to find your own seals for the lids but it is nice.  The glass does not change the flavor and is the most environmentally friendly , insulated bottle on the market.