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Fit for a King

ON JUNE 1, some 20,000 participants——from elite runners and weekend warriors to walkers——will toe the line of the 11th Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon San Diego, a 26.2-mile block party with live bands. At the front of the pack, the Running Elvi——a group of runners who pound out the grueling marathon distance while costumed as Elvis Presley——will aim to set a new world record: the largest number of running Elvi ever assembled (race organizers are expecting 70-100).

San Diegan Bob Babbitt has run every Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon dressed as the King. Here, he shares highlights from a decade of sideburns, spandex and streetside serenades.

“We carry plastic gold rings with us, and sometimes a few of us will stop, pick a gal out of the crowd, serenade her and get down on our knees and propose. We did this once to a woman who was probably 70 years old. She was so excited, tears started streaming down her cheeks.

“I felt an Elvis should lead the first-ever Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon. At the inaugural race, I asked Ken Souza, one of the nation’s top duathletes, to run with us and to go off the front. The other elite runners lined up on each side of him so they looked like they were running in formation with Elvis in the lead. It was epic, and the photo appeared everywhere. I think it helped promote the race around the world. It has become a tradition to have at least one or two of the Elvi sprint out and lead the race for a quarter-mile or so.

“Jeff Padilla, the original Elvis, owns the Elvismobile. It’s a baby jogger equipped with a cassette player [packed with Elvis tunes], speakers, horns, a 12-pack of beer, a car battery to power the monstrosity, and a picture of the King on the front. The group stops frequently for beer, among other items. Hamburgers or donuts are also nice. I tend to get dropped early on by the group and lose the value of the music. Last year, I finally asked to push the Elvismobile and realized I now had all the power: I controlled the music, the beer and, more importantly, how fast we ran.

“The first year we ran the Boston Marathon, I was with comedian Will Ferrell. He ran 3:56 and crunched me. A note in USA Today the next morning said he had one goal for race day: Beat Elvis. And he did.

“We’ve had guys run under three hours. I personally have gone about 4:30. Usually, it’s about five hours, with stopping and hanging out with the bands.

“The only drawback is trying to use the porta-potty in a one-piece, white spandex outfit. Other than that, it’s 10,000 positives. Everyone knows you and cheers for you, you make people smile along the way, and the marathon flies by. We also have lots of female Elvi running with us now.

“Last year, we had Elvi in town from Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Kansas, Ohio, Florida and Texas. The weekend becomes a fun Elvi reunion.”

Absinthe Minded

IT’S BACK: Absinthe, once the elixir of belle époque bohemians, was legalized last year (with restrictions on thujone levels, reported to give the green stuff its psychedelic effects), and several imbibing establishments in San Diego are quietly serving the oft-maligned spirit. Downtown’s Currant, Little Italy’s Anthology, Bankers Hill’s Modus and Old Town’s new Jolly Boy are among the pourers. While it seems every local bartender has a different theory on the reasons for its onetime demonization——from a winemakers’ conspiracy to heavy metals found in the cheap knockoffs to the other stimulants its enthusiasts were likely consuming——they are now having trouble keeping up with demand, each having nearly run through their small allotment of bottles from boutique distilleries.

In addition to its outlaw status, perhaps what makes absinthe so intriguing are its attached rituals: the elegant spoon, delicate sugar cube and trickle of water that precede——and enhance——its enjoyment and lend the drink its iconic status. Just don’t ask the bartender to set it on fire; that’s for college kids on holiday in Prague, and this isn’t a Molotov. Had this been an actual tradition, the fire hazard would have potentially burned down many a city——such was absinthe’s popularity, particularly from 5 to 7 p.m., known as “the green hour.”

Okay, full disclosure: Absinthe’s psychotropic effects are another reason for its allure. The robust flavor induces small sips, yet the effects are almost immediate: warmth, tingles, lucidity——a unique buzz among alcohols. It’s just a matter of time before the green hour catches on in San Diego.
——ADAM ELDER

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