Do This: Flying Mullet 5K and One Mile Doggie Dash

Mullets, Christine Brown says, are birds, not fish.

Well, she should know. After all, her husband is the 2014 and 2015 Mullet King. You can see him  and other mullet royalty at the Flying Mullet 5K and One Mile Doggie Dash/Fun Run this Friday night in — where else? — Gulfport.

While this race is certain to have its share of serious runners, not all 5Ks are created equal. Last year, Gulfportians along the race course handed out Jell-O shots to runners (who may or may not have thought they were energy drinks), the Mullet Kings waved from their front porches, and one runner ran in an apron with a paper mullet pasted over his most delicate regions. 

The Society also welcomes dogs, goats, and chickens as part of the one-mile doggie dash and fun run. Even if you don't run, who could miss the chance to see Gordan the Goat in a 5K (The Gulfport Historical Society makes no promises about the presence of goats, although they do say to expect at least one chicken.

Any child under 10 can run in either the 5K or the 1-mile dash for $10, and the profit from those registrations goes to MY Foundation, a Gulfport-based charity that helps Gulfport's oldest and youngest residents in need. All runners get finisher medals and shirts, and Gulfport artist Eric Folsom designed the first place trophy. Chickens, kids, runners, walkers, and whatever else makes it to the finish line gets a pasta dinner from O'Maddy's at the Flying Mullet street party on Boca Ciega Bay, complete with live music and – for participants over 21 – free beer. Register at Active.com or in person Friday night starting at 5 p.m. The race starts at 6 p.m.; doggie dashers and fun-runners start shortly thereafter. 

So, wait, why are mullet birds and not fish?

Because, Brown says, they have gizzards. Birds have gizzards, not fish. Simple logic.

Who are we to argue?

This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2015.