One of my favorite running traditions comes in the month of December when I skip an early morning outing in lieu of hitting the streets at night to take in the Christmas lights. As a family, we always make several driving trips around the neighborhoods to see the lights, but seeing them by foot is the way to go. I load up the iPod with some Christmas tunes and I head out the door for an hour or two.
A sweet place for a Christmas lights run is McArthur Ranch. This neighborhood to the east of Highlands Ranch and is primarily horse properties with lots of land. There is a nice four mile figure eight loop to run that is half paved and half dirt roads with non-existent car traffic. With houses spread far apart and no street lights at all, the Christmas lights are spectacular. They jump out of the darkness and just look awesome.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRId-yjLP9tAhBGEQiC9tbVGjOQcikf6L36Rih-jE3fUQCel8H9hbZIjIcqixaH-GCufn-1b1dPJxCKwZ4oSrOvK976N4tQKzqQvn1O49oESysYhp0aQ0WT1gOokWjJ4-fZ3jNPWRRk9Z6/s320/DSC06427-1+%2528Large%2529.JPG) |
This tree is over 30' tall. |
I didn't take a lot of pictures since any night pictures I take all come out blurry and uninspiring. Maybe if I ran with a tripod strapped to my back, I could actually get some nice shots. Case in point below...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGP_brfjMBMBAOaScsupk5QMKOu0A2HsBDYhhFp6h_ORfrqEeii3WQEvvUnWgJsKKcqVm9RSGz9fRYkAX65lkDm8dlAU1rGRqdHTQsG37HzODiRMvwtNYYjwx7GsRaiHnR72cnGKHOE03/s320/12-25+Xmas+Lights+Run+%2528Large%2529.jpg) |
I just couldn't hold the camera still to capture this wagon. But each shaky effect was a little different. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yUxmKzgE_ksswIkV99b34pHkbosbIYDpz_IDbltkdhJiZNAE5aYXYAo-4Yd9yXPMxv7TEqo9ubtBRMduqQmPRynCwMH93CPqDE1oCycdBpmmHog5Mwv6g4RHjjYvu1u1iesvtrQaEw7z/s320/DSC06435-1+%2528Large%2529.JPG) |
One of my favorites, but the pic just doesn't do it any justice. |
With most Christmas lights still on display, there's still time to see them on the run.
I used to do this with a friend of mine every year for quite a few years. It left me opened to quite a few jokes. Yeah, I am going out with a buddy on a Christmas light run. You can connect the dots.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I can see how the door for ridicule is wide open. I'll probably keep this going as a solo tradition. Still on the cheesy side, and certainly not a new idea, but I enjoy it as something different from the daily grind.
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