This past weekend I participated in Lansing’s Color Run event. Even in my admitted shortcomings of preparation for the race, I was ready but not ready if you know what I mean? I did not know what to expect from my own performance. I certainly did not know what to anticipate being among 15,000 runners and walkers which included small children and babies in strollers. When my daughter Sarah and I arrived and made our connection with our team my questions were being rattled off a mile a minute until Sarah intervened for me and quietly said “mom just needs to know the plan”.

I am a person who needs to know ‘the plan’. I don’t like surprises. I don’t enjoy being derailed. I’m most comfortable with an agenda and time frame. So, my poor team members were hit with my questions such as…”will there be water along the route?” “will there be port-a-potties?” “do we have to run the entire race?”……It was so nice that my team members, who by the way were all old enough to be my children, politely tolerated my nervous misgivings and reassured me that I would be fine. With great respect they allowed me to offer an audible prayer for our team before we left the parking lot to find the starting line.

This was my first 5k. I really didn’t know how I would feel. We walked along the short route from our car to the start of the race and I must admit that each step closer to the starting line brought  more realization there was no turning back, no option to back out. As we got closer to the banner over the starting line, the closer the crowd of runners and walkers pressed in on me. I went from a newbie to official runner in a matter of minutes. I loved the energy generated from the crowd and from the young man with the microphone counting down our launch. The music was definitely for a younger crowd yet as I continued to glance around age was not  limiting many of my fellow wave members. 

With the final count to “Go!” we did. For the first time I knew how it felt and what it looked like to not be a lone runner on my country back roads, but suddenly thrust into being a group runner on the beautiful city streets of Downtown Lansing. The sun was the same–hot and bright–but the noises and cheering of the crowds replaced the sounds of cars and trucks rushing past me on my training days. Sarah and I stuck together walking in silence most of the time or giggling together as we made our way under and through the color stations, laughing at the amount of chalk up our noses, in our ears, or decorating our shirts and shoes.

I did not run the entire route and at first that disappointed me. I had really wanted to see if I could run 3 miles. Not being able to do so was a combination of the numerous individuals who chose to walk and spread out across the streets instead of staying to one side which made me lose sight of the running lane. In addition, I didn’t want to lose my team members who also weren’t running the entire route. As we continued to walk and engaged with those around us and arrived at each color station my sense of wanting to run was replaced by sheer enjoyment of doing something totally different for a Saturday morning.

I loved being a part of a zany crowd. I absolutely adored seeing families having a fun time together building relationships, creating memories and promoting good health. I laughed at seeing grown men wearing tu-tus and college age girls sporting colorful socks along with other crazy colorful running attire. I marveled that 15,000 runners and walkers, not counting event volunteers and workers, could enjoy a day where tempers didn’t seem to be flaring and cooperation was the mainstay of the morning. Part of me wanted to join several other young people who took time to purchase an iced coffee at the Bigby coffee shop and rejoin the rest of us making our way along the route.

So, if you were to ask me–was I satisfied with my experience my resounding response would be “YES”. I was able to overcome my nervousness by “not knowing the entire plan”, lay aside my personal expectations and fulfill a small dream–being a part of something bigger than jogging or walking in my own “little world”. I may have lost a little bit of hopeful running but I also gained valuable time with my daughter in the midst of our busy schedules.  I left the 5k gaining a new perspective about my abilities and observing first hand the goodness of people under the guise of coming together for the same purpose–having good, clean fun. Only the ‘clean’ part would be up for debate. None of us left very ‘clean’ but we WERE very ‘colorful’. And I’m pretty sure that many of us, myself included, are asking “When do I sign up for the next Color Run?” And I’m pretty sure ALL of us are still finding residue of color in our noses, ears, and the crevices of our shoes–evidence of a fun run.