Friday Five: Creative Marathon Mile Markers
Some marathons decorate mile markers with artwork, advertising or inspiring slogans. The Marine Corps Marathon even had “sign spinners.”
But race organizers are really missing out on an opportunity. Here are five things I’d like to see as marathon mile markers:
1) Wet bars.
2) Ice cream trucks.
3) Full-length mirrors.
4) Burma Shave-style progressive signs. Think of the possibilities. You could post a joke at Mile 14 and the punchline at Mile 15. You could post a trivia question at Mile 18 and the answer at Mile 19.
5) Strip poker. You could have a photo of fully clothed people at Mile 1, with photos of the same people in the same pose in subsequent miles, each time with one additional article of clothing removed.
There’s no way I’d ever be able to function with mile markers that made me think. I have A.D.D. like whoa when I run! Although the strip poker thing could be entertaining… hmmmmm
I love the Burma Shave idea. As for wet bars, my first marathon experience came as a spectator, and some friends and I put out a table of Bloody Marys for the runners. Only one took us up on the offer.