5K Color Run

After inspiration from Bruce's brother and sister in law, we both decided to sign up for a 5K color run.  This was like no other run that I have participated in (granted it is only my 3rd 5K ever).  I am not much of a runner - sure I've run a few races, but I don't particularly enjoy running, and I am completely out of shape.  This race motivated me to do some running (although not as much as I really should), so I did do some training.  

On July 12, we headed up to Allentown to participate in this color run.  It took us a while to find the stadium where the event was taking place. A color festival was going on, and I wanted to spend some time enjoying the atmosphere, yet alone being worried that we wouldn't be able to pick up our event packet in enough time.  We did arrive 30 minutes before the start of the event, and in hindsight, it ended up being a good thing.  The festival wasn't much to awe at.  Instead of being the carnival-like attraction I was expecting, it was full of crowds of people drinking, colored powder for air, and loud headbanging music with a DJ who was just plain annoying.  The 30 minutes prior to race time was long enough.  Besides that, my children are not crowd people, so their excitement about the event was completely nil. 

 Here is our before picture featuring clean and non sweaty bodies.  

I tried to get a picture of the colored powder people were pouring everywhere, but the air was so full of dust, I really didn't know what I was taking a picture of.  

 With a handful of chips and a bowlful of snacks, the kids were ready to start the race.  Next time, I might just make Bruce push me along in the stroller too - it is certainly easier for me that way.  I will say that the kids were not thrilled by the prospect of us dressing up with color.  Both children cried relentlessly when Bruce and I gently poured some color on ourselves.  Zaby had a terrified expression on his face as if we were seriously hurting each other by this colored powder.

Here we are all guzzied up and ready to race.

When the race began, there were so many people packed at the start line, it made it nearly impossible to get going at all, especially not with a double jogging stroller.  We probably spent the first quarter of a mile of the race trying to maneuver around the walkers, and get to a point where we could work up to the resemblance of a jog.  As mentioned before, this was not like any race I've ever an in because in fact, it wasn't a race at all.  Many people were not in any hurry to start or finish.  Very few people actually jogged, and even fewer actually finished the entire race.  We ran through a parking lot in which the trail was looped around, so the majority of the people just cut through the cones instead of running the full track.  I am proud to say that I ran the entire race (save it be the first quarter mile trying to get through a literal wall of people, and one slight hill).  They didn't have any mile markers, so I really had no idea when I was near the end of the race.  I didn't think I was going to make it, and suddenly I was there at the end with a new spout of color thrown at me.  I have no idea how well I did because they didn't track time.  If I were interested in a competitive race, this color run was not the one to complete.  But it was fun nonetheless.

Here is the crew hot and sweaty and covered with colored powder at the end of the race.  The race environment after I finished was louder and more boisterous than the before party.  Another wave of night runners were gearing up to start their section of the race.  During our cool down, Zaby saw this air blown bobble thing and was completely fascinated. Every time the blue thing moved its arm, Zaby waved and said, "Hi," over and over again.  It was the cutest thing!

We sat on the lawn afterward to stretch, and eat dinner.  I wanted a picture that would show the color I had on me.  Eliza volunteered to take it, and this rather scary looking person is what she came up with.

 This close up of Bruce that I took is much more becoming.

 This is a better one of me - at least I don't look quite as demonic.  

 Eliza took one more of us stretching on the lawn before the novelty of a wide open space set in for her, and the kids were off running around.

The biggest accomplishment is that I finished the race, and I wasn't even sore afterwards.  When you haven't run in a long time, even a simple 5K sounds daunting.  I wish I could say that I kept up my running schedule, but I haven't - I moved on to water walking instead.