We were a little concerned about two weeks ago that the Ballbreaker event had lost steam over the years and we were not going to have a good turnout. It seems as though a lot of people were just busy with the holidays, and there was also the case of us really taking too long to get the real details out and that people ended up booking really quickly after that. The event is now completely sold out and we are really excited that this is the case.
If you booked in time, congratulations! you are one of an elite group of probably overweight and old mostly gentlemen that are going to get to poorly attempt to conquer the jungles of Chiang Mai in a 22 kilometer trail run. Who are we kidding with the run part of the description though, we all now that most of you are going to be walking almost the entire thing.
This year we have 2 beers stops - which other organized running events probably refer to as something stupid and lame like "hydration stations." At these points, which will be positioned every 7km or so, there will be water, snacks, medical supplies, and of course beer. It is strongly encouraged that if each person wishes to receive the highest level of recognition for participating that they drink a full beer at each of these stops. At the end line we will also strongly encourage you to immediately have a beer as well. That's just the way we operate. We are a hardcore group of "drinkers with a running problem" and we like to prove it in earnest in January of every year.
While this was not advertised the weekend is actually a 3 day event. On Saturday we have the birthday run of two long standing members, Skidmark and Harriet are turning 133 years old or something. I don't know exactly but it's really old. Their event has been scouted by themselves and it should be a winner. This is open to everyone but honestly, it is probably too late for most of you. If you happen to already be in Chiang Mai though, you can join in by simply being at the Tha Pae McDonalds for the pickup at 3pm.
There is also a recovery run on Monday for the truly hardcore. Anyone that does all 3 runs will get an award of the same free beer that all the other people that participate in just one of them will get.
The pickup for the Ballbreaker is earlier than usual, it is at 1pm at the same place that we always pick up at. Normally our runs start at 4pm but given the much longer nature of the ballbreaker, the pickup is taking place at 1pm There will be another late pickup at 3pm, but those getting on the late bus will not be allowed to participate in the full trail because it is too long and we don't want to have to send out a search party to find your corpse in the dark.
While we like to joke around, we do in fact have safety measures in place for this run: We have the Thai equivalent of an EMT that will be at the event and we also will have vehicles at each of the 3 stops along the trail. At each of these stops anyone feeling as though they cannot or don't want to continue, can get a ride back to the finish line. There is also a "wimp" trail so that people that have no intention of completing the full 22km can still get their legs a bit warm and pretend as though they participated in the whole thing. We won't tell anyone if you don't.
After the run, we provide transport to the after party as well as transport back to the McDonalds for all of you to limp back to your hotels or if you live here, those horrible hovels that you call houses.
It's gonna be a great day, the AQI is much better than it normally is this time of year in Chiang Mai, and the forecast appears to have zero chance of rain. Conditions are perfect.
We'll see you there!
On On!
