On the Run

The first year I lived in Minnesota, I discovered a truly wonderful thing. 

The State Fair.  

I know I’ve posted about my abiding love of all things deep-fried & on-a-stick many times before, so I won’t bore you with the laundry list of everything I ate this year.  Though I really ought to give a quick shout-out to the fried green beans with garlic dip that came with a side-dish of bag piper.  (Seriously.)  And the chocolate cannoli that rocked our world.  And the sweet-corn-and-bacon pizza that was so good I swear I heard angels singing.  

But I’m not here to talk about that.  No, this year I want to talk about my other favorite thing about the fair.

The Milk Run.

This is a 5K held on the opening Sunday of the fair every year, sponsored by the MN Dairy association.  For your entry fee you get admission to the fair, a t-shirt, a buck off a coffee at the Farmer’s Union booth and a free milk shake.  Plus it’s held at 7:45 in the morning.  So you get up, you get a jog in with 1,500 of your fellow fair goers, then you get to eat your way through the fair without guilt.  Because, hey, you already worked out!  And you’re going to log another who knows how many sweaty, dusty miles around the fairgrounds all day.

It’s the perfect way to do the fair.  

Last year I talked my oldest kiddo into jogging with me. (That’s her above–I’m repinning her race number.) This year, Mr. Sey joined us.  (There’s sweaty picture of us at the finish to your left.) The 5 y.o. felt a little left out, though, &  is demanding to be included next year.  It’s turning into a family affair, & I’m delighted.  I see little old ladies trotting along every year beside their kids & grandkids, earning their cheese curds one sweaty mile at a time.  And every year I think, “If God is good, that’ll be me in thirty years.”

Eventually I figure the kids will have to help me a little (okay, carry me.)  But heck, I carried them enough.  They can do me a solid.  I’ll buy ‘em a fudge puppy & we’ll call it even.  

So tell me, do you have a sweet tooth?  Do you fight it, or do you (like me) just try to run enough to balance it out?  Do you have a favorite indulgence/event combo like mine?  (Milk Run + State Fair = Happy Susan)  Or just a favorite Fair Food?  Share!