Since I've already heard the "Monster Mash" and "Thriller" about a hundred times, it must mean it's almost Halloween. And that means the fitness tie-ins and promotions are in full swing. You can get chased around by zombies in an obstacle race, play tennis in a costume or participate in my favorite event of the moment, based on the title alone: Zombie Zumba. Plus, I'm sure, a whole lot more.
And if you're a sports person, you'll probably appreciate some of the top costumes this year, including the always appropriate Blind Referee (only people on this site will find it offensive), the multiple Olympic gold medal winner costume - BYO Speedo, or wear warm-ups, depending on how cold it is outside - and the Charlie Sheen character, Wild Thing, from the movie, "Major League."
I do love Halloween. But honestly, I wish sports event promoters would pay attention to what else is going on in the country as a way of gaining participation. Like, say, the election. After all, it's the number-one topic in most conversations these days. Granted, everybody's probably sick of it by now, but it's still surprising that we aren't seeing any election-themed events. With the presidency, Senate and House on the line, you'd think organizers of sports events would be jockeying for position to host 5Ks where people could express their political affiliations by turning out in numbers (5Ks with Team Blue and Team Red participants, anyone?). It's a real lost opportunity, if you ask me.
Wouldn't this be a great way for campaigners for any local or national office to get involved as volunteers, or even athletes? Sports event organizers could set aside a special area where campaigners could distribute their literature - provided other volunteers from their camps perform nonpartisan tasks like handing out water or helping with registration - and that they do it in a nonpartisan manner, which come to think of it, might be asking a lot.
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But there are still lots of advantages. There is a whole pool of people out there just waiting to show their spirit. And there wouldn't even be a need for event T-shirts, since everyone else would probably have one of their own already - or various campaigners could furnish theirs to like-minded participants, if they wanted. And if it's designated as a charity event, organizers could choose a local nonprofit with no stated political affiliations - a soup kitchen, a hospice program or something similar - as the beneficiary.
Is anyone holding anything like this? Planning to? How is it polling?
Or have you already done an elections promo? Was it a winning ticket?
