Road to The Color Run

My first thought when I saw The Color Run video above was: “Holy Crap! This looks AMAZING!!!”. I double-dog-dare you not to smile while you’re watching it or feel instantly compelled to be a part of something awesome. And if the idea of the most ridiculously fun 5k I’ve ever heard of alone weren’t enough to get me to sign up, then the copy on the site, which is informative as it is hilarious would have sold me on the idea.

The only problem was… I couldn’t run to save my life. If faced with zombies, a rampant stampede of lamas on the loose, or an ice cream truck slowly pulling away from the curb, I wouldn’t have stood a chance outpacing any of them. With the amazing support from my friends and family I found the strength, and more importantly, the courage to undertake something outside of my wildest dreams.

The first step is always the hardest

Last Fall Ezra, a geek and aspiring adventurer, ran his first full marathon after loosing nearly 100 lbs. This incredible transformation was thanks in no small part to taking up running the year before. I was so proud of him, and at the same time, more than a little jealous; while he had lost 100 lbs, I had found most of them.

Slowly but surely, all the stress, lack of exercise and poor eating habits I had become accustomed to over the years added up. While Ezra was training for the marathon, I weighed the most I’ve ever weighed in my life. Things had gotten serious, and I knew I had to do something. I made major lifestyle changes including how I think about food, and becoming much more aware of the body’s inherent need to get up and move around. I started seeing a big difference in how I looked and felt every single day as I started loosing weight and becoming more active.

The pivotal moment was when I realized I hadn’t just gained weight, somewhere along the way, I had lost my sense of self

Today I have officially lost my first 30 lbs thanks to making those changes and making the decision to attempt Couch to 5k, an 8 week program “designed to get just about anyone from the couch to running 5 kilometers or 30 minutes in just 9 weeks.”

I never thought I’d be able to run more than 50 feet, but every day it got easier, and the idea of running 3 miles became more and more attainable. This new attitude was contagious; a few of our friends were so inspired by our determination and subsequent transformation that they also started eating better and going to the gym in solidarity and we marked off each day of the Couch to 5k together.

But really, it all started with Ezra, and the day he crossed the finish line of his first marathon, a mere 12 months and countless pairs of running shoes after he had started seriously running towards that goal.

Knowing the goal changes the game

Watching The Color Run promo video instantly sparked something in me, and I knew I’d found my inspiration. It just so happened that the timing of the program and the run meant that we would be on the last week of C25k just in time for The Philadelphia Color Run. Given the spirit of the event it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate the epic victory of completing the Couch to 5k; we were stoked and every run took on new purpose and meaning.

In the weeks leading up to the big day, I watched that video practically on repeat, and every time it became more inspirational, celebratory, impactful, and somehow seemed to make the finish line even more attainable. I’m known for being able to laugh at anything, most of all myself, and what struck me from that video the most was how amazingly full of light and laughter the people were as the color exploded around them in a perfect moment of pure joy.

Simply put, the day of the run rocked our sweat-wicking socks off. Team “Good Running Words” (a play on this piece of Aziz Ansari comedic gold) was a dorky, grinning, healthy, happy, colorful, hot mess, taking pictures and laughing as we piled into my tarp covered car. Our color streaked faces and powder filled hair signified so much more than running 3 miles, which is to say, more than we could have ever dreamed. I’m so glad we made it this far and can’t wait to do it again next year!

In the mean time, I’m looking forward to my next challenge. If you’re looking for some good, dorky, fitness-related activities, this list of The 21 Most Incredible Races is a great place to start!