Like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, the Anchorage event has hoofed, horned animals chasing a festive mob of people. Unlike Pamplona, the Anchorage runners got to pet and hug their docile pursuers as they picked up their bibs prior to race time.
Another difference is the snow -- which didn't seem to bother upwards of 2,000 runners who clogged Fourth Avenue for the bizarre one-block race.
Zany costumes abounded. The giant butterfly costumes from the Ski for Women earlier this month were back, though not necessarily the same women wearing them. There were Vikings, a purple moose, a creature from "Where the Wild Things Are," a guy wearing a whole polar bear hide and, appropriately, a team of butchers.
Yes we have some odd celebrations and events in the Great Land. From the Cordova Ice Worm Festival, to the famous Fur Rondy celebrations going on now in Anchorage, to the craziest most dangerous race in the world, the Iditarod. Now add to that list the uniquely Alaskan Running of the Reindeer.
Hey its cold, we're bored, what would you do?
Have you ever wanted to see an event like this from the animal's perspective? Well now you can.
Wouldn't you like to see a reindeer catch one of these participants and exact a little revenge for all of that rendeer sausage they eat?
Lucky, lucky Gryphen! Here in Washington, D.C., we have much more snow on the ground, and no Reindeer Games!
ReplyDeleteGryphen, on Nov. 03 of 2009 you wrote: "Okay so now that Levi has gone public with his statement that Trig is Sarah's baby, [b]I can confirm that I knew Trig was not Bristol or Levi's baby for about six months now.[/b] And I know that is very confusing to those following "babygate" to digest. When I first heard that I was confused as well."
ReplyDeleteIs that still true or have you changed your mind about that fact?
I am getting hungry... how about some more bread crumbs Gryphen??
ReplyDeletethat's fantastic! we have winter festivals and dog sled races here in maine, but no running of the reindeer, though maine used to have caribou way back in the day before they were hunted down and habitat unsettled. we're at that point in winter, too, that we are doing whacked out things like polar plunges into the atlantic and our lakes. good fun.
ReplyDeleteNeat video, Thank You
ReplyDeleteThis running with the tame Reindeer is a joke and is cruel to the animals. I say if these brave Alaskans want to show some real courage lets start a "Run with the Grizzlies" and see how many turn out. I am from Alaska and also a hunter and I think this is a cruel event that should be stopped.
ReplyDeleteFun. That makes me miss Alaska. Why does it have to be so far...up there. ;)
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong, but didn't a reindeer knock Meg Stapleton on her butt once?
ReplyDeleteThe reindeer look like they're dashing for the safety of their enclosure!
ReplyDeleteI agree with anonymous at 11:06. I am not an Alaskan, but this seems like a cruel way to keep a little bordom at bay.
ReplyDeletecompetely off topic -- but I'm curious. Grypehn, or any of the other Wasillans and Alaskans who blog here -- has ANYONE laid eyes on SuperDoc CBJ at any point over the past year?
ReplyDeleteIs she still practicing?
speaking of the deranged rightwing anti-gov terrorists — Utah FBI building evacuated, two employees removed on stretchers, reports of “white powder”
ReplyDeletehttp://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/01/irs-ogden-utah-evacuated/
I am an Alaskan, and I agree with 11:06 and 12:07. I think we over-use animals for our own amusement. The reindeer were probably a little stressed after this.
ReplyDeleteO/T Someone posted on HuffPost that Palin is not a natural born American Citizen. Her parents moved to Canada and became Canadian Citizens...Sarah was born in Canada. She and her parents moved back to US and settled in Alaska. Therefore, she was Canadian before she was American........That is why she won't show her birth certificate.......just saying......
ReplyDeleteI don't call this entertainment either and it will probably stop when someone get an eye poked out.
ReplyDeleteAnother town, another animal
ReplyDeletehttp://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/v2/
Brattleboro, VT
Check out the World Ice Art Championships taking place in Fairbanks. Web cams so you can see the carving in progress. http://www.icealaska.com/
ReplyDeleteI think some reindeer are pets, like doggies, if so, they probably don't mind hanging out with a bunch of people. However, I do feel your concern. I don't like animals or people being used for entertainment.
ReplyDeleteBaloney. Sarah was born in Sand Point, Idaho.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous how the hell do you know she was born in Sand Point?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteGryphen, on Nov. 03 of 2009 you wrote: "Okay so now that Levi has gone public with his statement that Trig is Sarah's baby, [b]I can confirm that I knew Trig was not Bristol or Levi's baby for about six months now.[/b] And I know that is very confusing to those following "babygate" to digest. When I first heard that I was confused as well."
Is that still true or have you changed your mind about that fact?
9:28 AM
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I, too, am curious. Levi said that Trig is Sarah's baby. That is really open to interpretation. Yes, for all intents and purposes, Sarah does have Trig in her *custody* and he is living with the Palin family, but that in itself does not *prove* she is the birth mother, nor does it *prove* that Bristol did not give birth to him. What/who is the irrevocable information, source that leads to believe this is the case? How do you know, without a doubt, that this is the absolute truth? There is information and then there is credible, sound, and undeniable information backed up by provable evidence.
All I know is that anything that has to do with sarah palin, is open to scrutiny because she is the craziest, lying-est, most deceitful, uncaring, ignorant and stupid piece of human waste. Did I mention I absolutely loathe her? I do.
Well, at least the reigndeer were spared the view that some Hawaiians got!
ReplyDelete