12:05

I unfriended Facebook months ago, and finally cut the cord for good.  (Actually, I only deactivated the account.) The simple truth is that I'm really not interested in your propaganda -- no offense intended! Our current political climate has a lot of folks in a real tizzy, and you have plenty of good company if you feel the need to spout on Facebook. I have my own uninteresting problems to work through, and Facebook is simply one more "news" channel to which I no longer subscribe.

The joke was on me, though, because not too long after I made my original decision to leave Facebookville my neighbors across the street corner put up sign in their yard -- directly facing my house for me to read each and every time I step out my front door for a run or any other reason.  You may have seen signs like this in your neighborhood too. (This is not the exact sign, but very similar.)

My full reaction to the sign might make for a post on some other blog venture later, but you probably won't be interested in it -- especially if reading this sign sends you on a Pavlovian search for the "Like" button!  Facebook culture has crossed the threshold into the physical world, and alas, there's no way for me to unsubscribe.

You can probably tell that I'm not a sign kind of person.  I don't put up yard signs during election season; I don't have any bumper stickers -- most certainly not those 26.2 and 13.1 ovals that I see all over the place!  (I actually prefer the 0.0 oval stickers.)

I do like to wear my race shirts proudly!  Yes, I have a bunch of those, as my colleagues can confirm. They form the bulk of my wardrobe, and right now I honestly don't think that's an exaggeration. Here's last year's collection.

Okay. There is one kind of sign that I fully and wholeheartedly endorse -- the marathon sign!  Race spectators make things really fun for the runners with their creative and hilarious signs, and I'm sure it's a part of why many of us look forward to race day!

You can easily search up some fantastic race sign ideas, but here are just a few of my favorites actually seen at the Chicago marathon:

• "Worst Parade Ever" (a marathon staple)
• "Hurry Up, the Kenyans are drinking all the beer!"
• "Show Trump and Clinton how to run a real race!"
• "Smile if you're not wearing underwear!" (another staple)
• at the 23 mile mark: "Your 23 mile warmup for today's 5K is finished!"

The signs can also be motivational.  One church from Chicago set up volunteers at different points along the route holding signs which read: "One day you will no longer be able to finish a marathon. Today is NOT that day!"

Be sure that your own bucket list includes attending a marathon as a spectator at least once, with signs, cow bells, and whatever good spirit you want to add to the mix!