Aug 29, 2014

Five Things to Look Forward to in Fall | Friday Five


It's that time of year again. The temps are warm but starting to dip. It's getting darker on those early morning runs. Soon the leaves will change. Pumpkin Spice is invading everything: the coffee, the beer, the cake, the dogs, the cats, the humanity! Sorry, started down a pumpkin spiced rabbit hole there. Damn, did it again. Anyway, this week, the Friday Five linkup is looking ahead to fall. This week's topic is

Five Things to Look Forward to in Fall

Friday Five - Fall and Fairs

1. Fairs

One of my favorite thing about fall is it's time for fairs. This weekend I'll be attending the Allentown Fair with my wife's family, which means delicious fair food I'll spend the week running off (but SO worth it). In my hometown, near halloween is always Farmer's Fair. Growing up that meant entering decorated pumpkins when younger, then working the boy scouts pizza stand, marching with the band and then even later an enjoyable weekend with friends you haven't seen in a while. I even got the chance to take my daughter last year and she had a blast. Petting zoo and a parade with marching bands, what's not to love? Growing up every year we attended the Bloomsburg Fair: crafts, animals, rides and of course food. In college, it meant mostly the food, like daring to eat the heart stopping deep fried cheesecake (btw, fantastic, worth however many miles).

2. Cool but not Cold

I love when the temperature just starts to drop and cool down before it gets cold. I love jeans and t-shirt weather. I'm most comfortable in it, outdoor activities are great and you can drive with the windows down. Music up, windows down, perfect ride. Perfect temperature to run as well, which brings us to the next item.

3. Beat the Blerch

the blerch
If you're a runner, you may likely have seen this comic from The Oatmeal. It became quickly popular shortly after being released. The popularity of the comic and the blerch prompted Matthew Inman to start his own race, the Beat the Blerch 10K / Half / Full Marathon. The race sold out immediately after being put on sale. Not just runDisney fast, but in a matter of minutes fast. They eventually decided to add a 2nd day. That day sold out from the number of people on the waiting list alone. Then, finally, the added a virtual run. Sign up, get all the swag, and run from anywhere you can. This was on sale for just a week, and I can't even imagine how many people signed up. However, I am one of them. The race dates are September 20th and 21st, so I plan to run the same day. I'm hoping to run a half for it, but may only do the 10K, if scheduling won't allow for the time to run 13.1 miles.

4. Halloween

I always enjoyed dressing up for Halloween growing up. Getting to pick out a costume and be something fun. It was always a good time and came with the perk of candy. Now, I get to share that time with my daughter and son. She loves playing dress up. This week I've come home to her twice in different princess dresses. This year, she is excited to be Cinderella and decided that her brother should be Jack the Mouse. I can't wait to see it.

5. Preschool

It's back to school time, which is usually a time parents love and children hate. I'm excited because my daughter will be in preschool for the first time. The down side to Virginia is my daughter misses the cutoff for school. From everyone we've talked to, our county is also very strict on that, even private schools. So for preschool, we had to find one with a 'young 3s' program, which means she'll only be going two half days a week. But two are better than none. She's very excited for it as well. She loves learning, which makes Mommy and Daddy happy.

A Helping Hand (Again)

Liked this post and want to see more? Just want to do me a favor anyway? I recently started a Facebook page to go with my blog (you're reading it now) and Twitter (@rgrdisney) when I did my giveaway, so I'd love if you'd help it grow and give it a like. If you do and drop me a message, I'd be more than happy to return the favor. I know I asked this last week, but felt it wouldn't hurt to ask. Thanks.

</self-promotion>

Linking Up

Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: CourtneyCynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!

Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat Pray Run, DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up

Chaitali @ Running and Enjoying

M @ readeatwriterun

Amalia @ Live Travel Eat and Run


Image credit:
Fried cheese cubes - yorkblog.com
Ribbon fruit - dillsburgfarmersfair.org
Tractor - dillsburgfarmersfair.org
Crowd shot - martmagpa.com
Blerch - beattheblerch.com

28 comments:

  1. I hope I am not posting twice, looks like I have technical difficulties. I love fall fairs. I'll actually be visiting Allentown for a shower, so hoping to find a race that weekend. I look fwd to your virtual Blerch report... just read Kristen K is running that!

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    1. No problem. I only see one post, so you're good. Blogger is also weird sometimes when it tries to reload the comments after posting one. Considering moving off for that reason.

      Allentown is pretty nice. Hopefully you can find a race there. And you wont be far from Runners World over in Emmaus.

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  2. I wish I'd been able to do the Blerch race, I look forward to hearing about it! And I agree with your other points, fall is my favorite season.

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    1. Yeah. I was hoping they were going to get an east coast race worked out, like they had talked about doing, but it never came to be. Virtual works for me though. Excited to get my swag and run it.

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  3. I'm doing the Beat the Blerch too!!! :-) Yay!!!

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    1. Yay! Hope we all beat him! I can't imagine how crazy it will be in Washington.

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  4. Yes, I am looking forward to cool-not-cold weather, but we've really had a nice summer! My daughter has a November birthday, so I understand the cut-off issues. She learned so much in daycare she was way ahead by Kindergarten.

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    1. Yeah. It has been quite a nice weather summer here for the most part. Much cooler and less humid than normal, which I'm ok with.

      Yeah, she misses the cut-off by 10 days, so it sucks being so close. She has two friends though that are all in the same boat. They're all within a week of each other. With her preschool, when we visited at the end of the school year, they told us the stuff they work on in the early 3s and it was all things at that time she was already doing.

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  5. Fall is my very favorite time of year and I love breaking out my long sleeved t-shirts! We've been researching schools to put our 3 1/2 year old in part time. It's exciting but also a bit scary to send him off to school! Best wishes for yours on her transition!

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    1. Yeah. Exciting but leading down that path of school is a little scary at times too.

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  6. I've been to the Allentown fair once bout 10 years ago to see a Tim Mcgraw concert! We use to go to the Bloomsburg fair often since it is near by but haven't gone in quite a while. We might be neighbors?

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    1. They usually have some good concerts there. I haven't gone to any there, but my in-laws have.

      Well not currently as I'm in VA, but maybe my family, haha. I grew up south of Harrisburg, but I went to Bloomsburg for undergrad (and my mom went there as well). I also have a lot of family over in Schuylkill county. My wife has family in Allentown which is why we head out there.

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  7. I still love Halloween and dress up and do up the house even though my kids are in HS. You're never too old to find an excuse to eat candy! FB page liked :)

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    1. Nothing wrong with costumes. I love them for runDisney. Perfect excuse to wear them.

      Thanks for the like. Appreciated.

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  8. haha, I've never seen the Blerch but how funny!

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    1. Yeah. It's a great comic and he's made a book out of it with other funny stuff that looks like it should be good. I love the little flying gif of him.

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  9. "cool but not cold." YES. that is my favorite thing about fall weather. i'm hoping we have an extended fall - i'm not in any rush for winter!! :)

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  10. Halloween and fairs (that's one I forgot) yes please!!

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    1. Had a BLAST at the fair today. So much good food, though I even restrained myself from some things (though not others, haha)

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  11. That's awesome you're doing the Beat the Blerch race! I don't think I know anyone else who is. I look forward to hearing about it.

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  12. You know, I had never read The Oatmeal Blerch cartoon the whole way through and always meant to - thanks for linking it up to remind me! My middle child misses the K cutoff and went to a preschool that had a 3 year old class and also a 3.5 year old class, which was nice since he was turning 4 when the year started last year. Now this year he's turning 5 in a couple weeks so he's doing their Pre-K class. I joke that if he hadn't been 2 weeks late he might be going to K this year!

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    1. No problem, bad to be of assistance.

      Yeah. The funniest thing about missing the cutoff is if I was back home in PA, it wouldnt be a big deal because the cutoff is like August sometime. Its purely by being so close to that cuff I think.

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  13. I haven't been to a big fair since I was in high school, but they were always in August where I grew up. I always got a blue ribbon with my (my dad's) alfalfa entries!

    Just followed you on Twitter, and liked your Facebook page!

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    1. Yeah. In our small local one I would usually enter some photos, that would occasionally win something.

      Thanks for the follows / likes.

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  14. I love Fall too! I am looking forward to sending my daughter to preschool as well- she starts next Monday and Halloween as it has always been my favorite!

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    1. That's great. Hope your daughter is as excited as mine for preschool.

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