A Color(ful) Run

 

The 5K Crew (minus Leigh Anne)

When the 5k Crew started back on September 1st, we weren't sure when we'd run our first 5k together, but wanted to look around and find something fun. We all agreed that the "official" Color Run was too far for all of us (it was taking place about 1.5 hours from here), but we were delighted to find a local Color Run here in Suwanee. We all signed up and started preparing for our 1st 5k together.

When I got up Saturday morning, it was not only cold, but raining. YAY!! I got in the shower and put extra conditioner in my hair (as suggested by another Color Runner's blog) so that it'd be easier to get any color out after. We left here at 6:55 and arrived at Peachtree Ridge High School at 7:15.

I met Ann and Lesley in the parking lot and then we connected with Stacey and her family. We all walked to the field together and checked in.

We stood there for about 45 minutes and tried to figure our what the plan was. There had not been ay route posted online, and we were praying that we wouldn't be running the whole thing on the track. It was the 1st time that PRHS was hosting this, and of course, there were snafus to be expected.

Jo and Jackie arrived and the group was all there. We took a few "before" shots and then it was time for the warm up exercises.

They had us walk to the track and immediately people were wondering what was going on. To say it was unorganized is an understatement. We were all just standing on the track waiting for directions.

 
All of a sudden, someone comes on the speaker and tells us that we're going to run two laps and then start the route. Instantly, people started running. This goes against how I've been training. I'm used to walking for 5 to warm up and then run. I'm on week 6 day 3 of C25K and I was going to use Saturday as another training day.

As people started to run and pass us, I said I wanted to do my 5 minute warm up. We got around the track and then about to head onto the course and Ann and I had to use the bathroom (BAD timing). We hurried into the porta potties and then quickly tried to get caught up, but by that point, we were waaaaaaaaay behind the crowd.

There were some areas that were uphill and it made it more tiring to complete... but I did it. As we continued through the course, I kept thinking, "WHERE'S THE COLOR?!?!?"

When we got to the first color station, it had started to rain.

I was tired at the first mile. I told Lesley, "Maybe I'm not cut out for 5ks..." I just wanted to stop, but I knew we had to keep going. My knee had been hurting a few days before the race, and it was really throbbing as I was running. We ended up walking a lot.

We made it around the course one time and I saw my dad, Steve, and Gus and then Lesley saw Jason and Logan. It was hard to know that we still had so far to go, but it was a great feeling to know that we were over 1/2 way done.

In fact, they had us run the track for a 1/2 mile for nothing. When the whole thing was over, instead of being 3.1 miles, it was 3.44. The lap around the track could have been eliminated.

Anyway... they had a lot of water stations which was nice, and it was fun to go through the color stations. Being hit with color while running was more enjoyable than I had expected. It was fun to see everyone else running with their bodies covered in various colors.

 They gave everyone sunglasses... good thing! They helped protect the eyes from the color!

My dad captured the color explosion at the finish line!!

Jo, Jackie, and Stacey

Coming out of the first lap

I can't say enough about Lesley. She stuck by me through the entire thing and every time I was discouraged or complaining, she helped get me refocused and positive. She totally could have left me in the dust, but she didn't. :-)

We met back up with Ann and she ran the last lap with us and we all crossed the finish line together. We didn't come in 1st, but we didn't come in last either. 

When we finally did finish, it was an amazing feeling to be DONE!!!

Stacey, Jackie, and Jo coming into the finish

Crossing the finish line and getting their color

Us coming into the finish

Ready for an explosion

YAHOO!!!

We did it!!

We finished under an hour! I had wanted to finish faster than the 5k on the 5th and I did. My official finish time was 57 minutes!

I am so happy to have made the friends that I've made. I don't LOVE running (yet) and I still don't consider myself a runner. I'd like to build up enough endurance to actually RUN an entire 5k and not run/walk like I've had to do. I just don't have it yet, but I'm doing better than I ever have. 

I'm so happy that Steve and the boys came to watch me finish, and it was even more awesome to have my dad there. He's been such a big supporter since I started running last year. I am glad that he was able to come to see me actually run a 5k and he took a ton of pictures. I hope I made him proud.

I was not emotional at all when finishing. I'm glad I ran the Emory 5k and had that first experience to draw upon. I think I was so emotional with that one because it was the first, and I did something that I didn't think I'd ever do. While I didn't run the entire thing, I did run a lot of it, and I finished and didn't give up.

I had a great time running the Color Run and look forward to running the Turkey Trot with my cousin, my older brother, and my dad. Should be very memorable and even more awesome because I'm running with family.

For everyone that's been reading and supporting me, I can't thank you enough. There are plenty of times when I feel like giving up and I feel like a failure, but your words of encouragement keep me going and help get me back to a good place.