Color "Run"

 5Ks are often called Fun Runs for good reason, but never is that more relevant than a Color Run.  When Christie, who happens to NOT be a runner, mentioned she REALLY wanted to do a Color Run I was all in to support her.  I found the closest race that still had openings and worked in our schedules and we started planning.  Nora decided she'd like to join us as well.  The day VIP registration opened I registered all three of us.  The next day Christie shared her good news that she was expecting!  She insisted she was still doing the race but would likely have to walk a lot.  I had no problem with that as it was more about spending the time with friends then getting through the course quickly. 

In the weeks leading up to the race we discussed our outfits, shopped, and chatted about travel plans - not once did we run.  We showed up at the start line darned cute though!

We started the 'race' in a slow jog through Camden Yards.  Prego had to pee almost immediately so we slowed to a walk and looked for a potty.  We turned the corner to see the yellow station and jogged through,

but the baby bouncing put pressure on the bladder.  We walked and chatted until we found a bathroom.  I waited, goofing off, until Momma was ready to roll again.

We laughed and chatted, walking mostly, jogging occassionally all the way to the blue station.  I ran through and stopped, turning to take pictures as they came through.

What I didn't realize was that as I stood there snapping pictures, one of the color guys stood directly behind me literally POURING blue over the back of my head and down my back.  I looked like a Smurf from behind.  We continued on, laughing and chatting, mostly walking; and soon enough came to the orange station.  This time Nora ran through and took pictures of Christie and I, the color people were kinder to her!

As we laughed our way through the distance I couldn't help but notice that some people were running as though they were going for a PR.  I didn't get it.  Even if I had not been with Christie and Nora I wouldn't see this as a competitive race.  It is not a timed event.  It is a wave start and there are many, many waves with long waits between so you couldn't even really gauge how many people were actually in your wave vs. previous or latter waves.  There were all ages on the course from kids barely toddling to older folks...also barely toddling in some cases.  And the color...well, it's not very conducive to respiratory function to say the least.  When we picked up our packets we were each handed a packet of color for the finish line party.  I laughed as I read the ingredients - corn starch, color, flavoring...why flavoring???  I found out quickly...the dust was everywhere.  It hung thick in the air and you tasted it as you ran.  I couldn't imagine really running hard and sucking air but coming up with color.  I was perfectly content with our chosen method of Color Fun vs. Color Run.

As we approached the pink station - both my and Christie's favorite color, we saw a really cute sign given her condition and stopped for a picture.

We then asked a lady who was walking if she'd mind going through the station and taking a picture of us coming through together.  She said sure and set off, only she didn't get a picture as we came through; so instead we stopped posed for a pic before collecting the camera and continuing to the finish.

After we finished, Nora snapped a picture of me.

She'd just handed me the camera when out of nowhere, another running bombed Christie with his blue packet.

Even her teeth were blue.  We continued laughing and chatting for a bit, posed for a picture,

and then headed to Hard Rock Cafe (getting some serious stares along the way) to grab some lunch before hitting the road.  We laughed about the color, worried that it wouldn't wash off, and just overall enjoyed ourselves; then hit the road home.  Somewhere along the way, with several hours between our finish and us, Nora and I began to notice how we no longer looked bright and happy splattered but rather just dingy and dirty.  By the time we stopped for gas I realized I was just flat out a hot mess.

After being dropped at home and a good long shower later most of the color was gone.  I tried to preserve the color in the shirt following the suggest vinegar method on the Color Run website, but it still washed right out.  It was more difficult to get the color out of my ears and nose than it was the clothes!  But run or not, we definitely had fun!