Star Wars Half 2016...and Cirque du Soleil

After finishing the 10K, it was time for breakfast, shower, and then our plans for the day. There are a few things I obsess over ... like superfan. INKnBURN, Lladro, and Cirque du Soleil. Kabinet of Kuriosities was showing in LA and I haven't seen it. I had to go while we were in town.

So, the Musician and I headed to a show about an hour away. Some people say that if you've seen one Cirque show that you have seen them all. I disagree completely. The costumes, the music, the story. Always so different. Even the performances are different. It's sometimes hard to describe the differences because they are filled with feats of athleticism that should be impossible for humans to do. Each show I watch (and even if I see the same one more than once) leaves me amazed. They continue to push the envelope. Who in their right mind conceives that such things could even be possible. This show was just like that. The contortion, the balance, the strength, the climbing ... breathtaking. I knew the theme was a little steampunk-ish. I don't know why I didn't wear my INKnBURN Steampunk kit. I would have fit in perfectly.

After Cirque, we found Vegan House. It was a vegan Asian hole in the wall. It was OK, but not enough for me to write about. And we made it back to the hotel for a few fireworks and to lay out clothes for tomorrow. It's gonna be early.

With a 5 AM start, it was an early morning. Back to the same routine. Porta potties. Pictures. Say goodbye to Tigger and Sorority Girl and I headed to the back of the pack corrals.

 The course started similar today. Through the narrow streets, but it felt even more crowded.

 The costumes were fun again. I especially enjoyed the men in bikini Leia costumes. Hilarious. And there were many. Some super fit and eye-popping. Some old and grey with beer bellies. Also pretty awesome ... takes guts. I was also impressed with the women who had the guts to wear skimpy costumes. I find all bodies to be perfect, but not all bodies look like models. There were so many that I just couldn't take all the pictures I would have wanted.

   We eventually left the park and then it was the bands.

 OMIGOSH!!! The junior high and high school bands and cheer squads were AMAZING on the course. So inspirational. And clearly, competing with each other for the best, loudest, most upbeat. There were even mini-cheer squads. And, by mini I mean they couldn't have been older than 6-8 years old. Adorable. Why I don't have pictures is just beyond me.

 At one point, the fresh donuts smelled amazing, so Sorority Girl and I stopped for a donut and it was as good as it smelled. We called it "nutrition" and "energy" for the course, right? Eventually around mile 10, we came across Cosplay. These costumes were out of this world and these volunteers clearly loved being out there and taking pictures with racers. We probably lost 10-15 minutes taking pictures. They were sometimes better than the costume characters in the park. And, sometimes incredibly creative and different.

 

 

Steampumk Star Wars 

Along the course, we met a few other INKnBURNers we recognized and said "hi" as they passed us or we passed them. Near the end, I lost Sorority Girl. I got caught up in some good music as we re-entered the park. The people along the course at the finish were amazingly inspiring.

 I was surprised to see the Musician at the finish instead of waiting for me at the hotel.

So, I finished on my own and did the medal and food box route.

 Picked up 2 medals ... half and challenge. Did the required pics and headed back to the hotel for fast shower before breakfast.

 After breakfast, we had to check out of the hotel and we found a few ways to kill some time with breakfast and bloody mary's, shopping and gelato.

 We dropped Tigger and her dad off at Will Rogers airport. Sad to see the weekend come to an end so soon.

Then a quick stop by the beach before the Musician dropped me at LAX.

 

He is staying in town for a music convention. For me, back to the real world.