Running for Butterbeer… The Ministry of Magic 6.2442 Miler Race Recap

Let me start off by saying, I loves me a virtual race. Combine that with a Harry Potter theme and you are basically 100% guaranteed that I will sign up.  So far this year, I have completed 4 Potter-inspired “virtual” races varying in distance from a 5K to a 5-miler (all completed on my treadmill, of course you are shocked). 

Visitor Entrance to the Ministry of Magic

Yet when it came time for the Ministry of Magic 6.2442 Mile run on July 31 sponsored by the Hogwarts Running Club I decided to hit up my PIC Melinda for a running partner and take this joint to the streets! (Why 6.2442 miles ran on July 31 you may ask? Because 62442 spells “Magic” on the muggle phone that doubles as a guest entrance to the Ministry of Magic and July 31 is Harry Potter’s birthday, for those of you who didn’t know that I may need to rethink our friendship).

Now, in full disclosure I have been nursing an Achilles injury sustained during the Neon Run 5K the previous weekend and probably should not have opted to run over 6 miles less than a week after the injury, but what can I say, I am a glutton for punishment and obsessed with all things Potter.

We decided to start early to beat the heat, so at 6:30 AM we met in Baker Park to start our run. Things started out fun, the weather was nice and I was still in an overall great tolerable mood… that was until we reached the Mount Olivet Cemetery leg of the course, which is about 3.5 miles

The Neon Run – Race Recap

I never thought I would live to see the day where I looked at a 5K race as a fun and viable option for “girl’s night out” and yet there I was Saturday evening at the Neon Run with 3 of my closest girlfriends (and a few of their friends) all geeked out about running a 5K.  We were decked out in our finest tutus, costumes and head to toe glow-jewelry ready to git-r-done.

Let’s be honest, the Neon Run (or it’s less fun step sister, the Color Run) isn’t about the running, it is about having a great time while running or walking with your family or friends.  The energy is high, the music is loud and the DJ is there to get you pumped up.  I was amazed to hear that there were over 2,200 participants at this race, especially considering the absurdity of the course.  

I was impressed with the overall vibe of the race, as more and more participants arrived to the event-plex the energy was pumping.  I felt like people were bouncing off the walls just to get the

My Harry Potter Tree

For many years I have thought about making a Harry Potter themed Christmas tree, however because I have a small addiction to holiday decorating (especially Christmas trees ) I knew that if I tried to sneak a Harry Potter tree into our already overly decorated house that I may push Shawn over the edge of tolerance. 

Luckily I work at a company that seems to encourage, if not foster, my love of HP so I decided that this was the year I would have my Potter-themed tree and set it up in my office.  For several months I have been trolling Pinterest and Etsy to get ideas on ornaments that I could craft myself and in early November I started fabrication. 

I found so many great ideas that I had to edit myself down to what would fit on the little 4 ft tree.

 I love the little potions bottles made out of heart-shaped glass ornaments filled with glitter glue and corked, the mini Harry Potter books were a breeze to construct using modge podge, computer printouts and wooden blocks found at the craft store.  I scored a great find on eBay, 6 little plastic cauldrons for $2 that I stuffed with fiber-fill to look like they were brewing potions.  I had so much fun painting the wooden game pieces to look like Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna and one of my favorite projects was painting a tacky

Have you ordered yours?

I've ordered mine... have you?? Visit the USPS site to find all of the pre-order details!

Dreams Really Can Come True

I always knew that dreams really can come true when you wish upon a star (thanks for the tip Walt Disney)!  Not two weeks after expressing my deepest desire for the divine Miss J.K. Rowling to revisit Harry’s story in some way…in ANY way, it was announced that Jo (she’s totally cool with me referring to her by her nickname by the way) will be expanding her writing credentials to screenwriter, penning the script to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them”.   Even more exciting was the statement by Warner Brothers Studios that this film is planned as the first in a new film spin-off SERIES that is an extension of the Wizarding World!! (Click below to find the full announcement by J. K. Rowling)

As you can imagine, all of my favorite go-to nerd interweb sites are abuzz with speculation