Witness some 200+ people on the Embarcadero. (It was more than 500+!) Wooo! All sorts of costumes, some certainly not for the running in. Enter we, 2 cats set to prowl.


I (Ombwah) and Bun Bun Meow, appropriately attired began our Journey on the BART all the way in to the Embarcadero. We arrived just in time to get one of the very last sign in sheets, as the park was thronged with costumed runners-to-be.

It was very Loud too! I found it particularly neat to look around knowing what was going on and Noticing the shall I say Innocent Bystanders watching in awe and wondering what was happening. For some, I think that curiousity got the better of them and they came to ask us, the two cats. How appropriate. One gent in particular I remember approaching us, and we moments later saw him in Line to get His ribbons. WOOt, wonder if he enjoyed how he chose to spend His halloween.

The first leg was just a brisk jog along the closed Bay Bridge and voila! Not too stressful, as I passed a member of the erstwhile SFPD I caught his CB squawking "Are we still watching that group of - more than 200 in the park? Some sort of race going on?" I laughed. We asked each other aloud if we should jump up this alleyway, and the cop shouted after us "Just stay off the bridge!" I only then realized we were beside the (empty) Bay Bridge, closed for the repairs. Check point one had only a few narrow exits and I was tagged shortly upon exiting. I was texting Bun Bun to tell her to run-run when she called me to report being tagged a couple of blocks on.

Just A BRISK JOG? *meows in surprise* Brisk jog INdeed! I in fact found the first leg the most painful and Scary at the same time. I think I realized then I better control my breathing or I was in trouble. This was also when we were first seperated. I had to then choose to seek to meet back up by lingering Or just run for the checkpoint. I ducked behind a building in the end, and spotted me kitty partner coming my way soon after. PhEW! At the checkpoint, I really wished to stay a spot longer to catch my breath. But the prowling chasers Milling about made us to skittish. And not but a block away the very couple that scared us off tagged Ombwah, Im thinking maybe it was their plan all along. After I lost me partner I slipped around the corner and spotted my chance to bolt. I made it two short blocks, lol. In the End I PRobably was the EASIEST prey of the night. As I dodged one chaser, Literally to FALL into the arms of another. See attached Pic of the bruise from his awesome catch. To that guy... "No hard feelings, Thanks for the catch". *winks*

As we went to meet I came upon a group of three runners walking toward where I knew Bun to be, and they saw me. The classic recognition-break-dash ensued and I hear one of them exclaim "Chaser!... and he's hella fast! I overtook them one at a time, and tapped the first two to say "coulda had you" but only nabbed the fastest of the group. The other two took off while I turned him to the Dark Side, and Bun Bun and I were reunited.

Thereafter the night became a series of disjointed stalking and sprinting, circling and prowling. I believe predators must view the landscape differently than prey, for thereafter Bun Bun chose hunting grounds and we prowled them mercilessly. There were a handful of takedowns, and once we were thwarted by the Golden Lady herself, but I came to the opinion that my job was to make the runners move, to make them dodge and run and cackle -- and I did that with aplomb. It was a good night to bellow and roar and be the agent of adrenaline.

We walked between nearly every checkpoint and finally took the MUNI up to 7 at around 11:45 for the awards and a refreshment.

I realize that while I have a lot of burst, I have very little endurance for long term runs. Also, there are CARS in those street guys! Yeesh! I cut the chase to avoid speeding vehicles a few times. We made a few friends along the way, and saw them all again at the finish. The afterparty at Noisebridge was fun, and energetic despite the long night of activity before. There was even a showing of a live band, from a galaxy far, far away.

.Oh my goodness, that was part of my lack of continued persuit, not to mention at this point I had aggrevated my previous injury so me knee was not acting happy. But I watched people JUmp into the street and just zigzag down it with NO care. I was so frightened we were gonna get someone hurt. At one point whilst ombwah was pouncing on a fleeing rabbit. A police officer asked me.. " whats this, a Jump into the street and Die game? I smiled and said Happy Halloween. And proceeded to cross, at the walk signal of course. *giggles* I truly Hope though that NO ONE was hurt.

The costume party was a three-way tie - The Ringmaster, The Scottish Dude & The Linux Penguin pulled a ro-sham-bo to see who got to keep the trophy.

Aye, The Ringmaster with the smashing Hat. and I think the "Scottish Dude" was more specifically an officer of sorts. Which I think honestly was the winner. There were certainly a couple more "worthy" costumes in the place also. But no one wanted to come up. Alas, maybe it was that once ye sat down, one did not want to get back up. *giggles* Being the timid kat I am, I let Ombwah do the talking when the microphone got to us. But we had put a LOT of heart into our costumes being the prowlers that we were, and I wanted to show it. But this kitty does not like the spotlight at all. (hate cameras) I would have liked to get a better look at that trophy though..


I apologize for the blurry pictures, though maybe that's more correct, the whole night was a blurred stuttering experience of flashes and long spooling scenes. The city is smaller than I had perceived before, and so full of art - there are drawings everywhere. I got street tacos on the way back to BART and the night spiraled to a close.

Awesome.
EpIc! *purrs*