The Happiest 5K

Let me begin by saying that I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. So when a friend of mine decided to get a team together for the local Color Run I thought to myself, “Sure! Why not?!” I’ve been looking for a way to get rid of some of that post-baby flub and thought this was a great motivator. I had 5 months to prepare and I embraced it eagerly. I started the Couch to 5K treadmill program and the first week nearly kicked my butt. It was rough. Who knew 60 seconds could feel so long when you’re running?! But I stuck to it. And by the 8th week I surprised myself by running a solid 30 minutes. It may not have been the fastest, but I did it. I cannot say enough positive about the Couch to 5K program. I love how you build a little each week. It really works!!

Fast forward a couple of weeks to the beginning of summer vacation and the end of all diet and exercise plans I’d been sticking to. We jumped from one trip to another. Before I knew it, the Color Run was upon me. I awoke at 6:30 (ugh…) and threw on my running clothes. Thankfully my husband and best friend were participating, too. We managed to find a parking space forever far from the start line (with a short uphill hike to get us warmed up) and joined the throngs of other white-clad runners. We bounced nervously from foot to foot as the crowd pushed towards the start line. None of us had any idea what to expect. My friend is recovering from an ankle injury and opted to walk the 5K so she went out in one of the first groups while my husband and I waited. Finally, it was our group’s turn and the crowd surged forward…. Slowly. Oh so slowly. As we rounded the first corner, the group started to thin out as some people began to run. My husband and I decided to join them. I have to admit, I loved weaving in and out of the walkers as we ran. (Not trying to be jerks, they were just spread across the entire road). I’m proud to say that we actually jogged quite a ways before slowing down for a walk break. The color lanes provided other opportunities for rest as the participants lined up for their chance to be blasted with color. We ran some. We walked some. With 1K to go, my 3 year old joined us and boy can that kid run! She was so excited to be participating that she ran the whole way!! We paused for a moment just before the finish line to wait for our friend and forty-one minutes after we began we crossed the finish line, together.

 It wasn’t fast. It probably wasn’t pretty, and I’m definitely feeling the burn today (not to mention still a little colorful despite scrubbing). But we did it and I am so proud of all of us for completing the race. It was an absolute blast and a great race for beginner runners. I can see why they bill themselves as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet.” One of my happiest moments of the day? When my daughter looked up at me when we’d finished and said, “Mommy, I want to run some more.”

 My husband, daughter and myself with 1K to go! ->