Today I did something new!
I ran a 5K! That part isn’t new because I have done a few, but I did a fun run today and it was just that… a really fun run! Jennifer from My Boys and Their Toys invited me out to participate in The Color Run and I am so glad I took a chance and did it.
I have done a few races, but I am not a runner.
I enjoy running, and I wish I was a runner… but I am not. Maybe someday. I do though very much enjoy a challenge. I like to push myself often and in new ways. I really didn’t think that something that would be considered more of a fun run in an actual race could be considered a challenge, but I was very wrong. I was wrong because everyone has different challenges. Taking a moment to relax and have a good time was more of a challenge than I thought. I actually found myself with a bit of anxiety leading up to the race because I didn’t know that I would be able to enjoy all of the revelry. I also really didn’t want to look silly. Isn’t that the point of letting go though? To risk looking a little silly in the pursuit of fun?
On my way out of the door to go to the race my daughter suggested that I take her unicorn onesie from Halloween and wear it. It did not fit me of course. But I squeezed my arms in and put the hoodie on my head and wore the rest of it like a cape. The theme of the race was heroes and unicorns, so I’m pretty sure I nailed it.
I got there really early. Really early, as in one of the first cars in the parking lot. That is usually another sure sign of my anxiety. I tried to control something and that ended up being my time. I used that time to listen to the Hamilton soundtrack without having to censor any of the curse words because there are kids in the car. That was step one in operation “get mom to relax“.
Step two was drink a warm cup of coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. Did you hear what I said?
An actual WARM cup of coffee. Talk about unicorns!
Step three… I put it on social media that I was about to run the race and held myself accountable. As soon as I knew that other people knew this was happening I was forced to relax. I know that would make other people really anxious, but for some reason knowing that there’s no turning back makes me rise to the occasion.
Y’all it was really fun.
I had A LOT of fun. I put Pandora on my phone and set to the soundtrack of my middle school years and had a blast! Salt-N-Pepa, Boyz II Men, Tone Loc, En Vogue… I am fairly sure I was singing out loud on occasion with my earbuds in and it was a glorious spectacle.
At the end of the race there was a dance party festival that was completely bananas. The DJ was playing music like that field was an abandoned warehouse. The crowd was jumping up and down and dancing in complete celebration a revelry. Random bursts of color would waft through the air and when the DJ counted down and zero: color would burst in the air in every direction! It was overwhelming but in all the best ways.
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