The Color Vibe 5K

When I first signed up for this a few months ago, I thought for sure I could get a team together to run it with me.  It wasn’t timed — just a fun run for charity.  But my friends just really weren’t into doing it… like at all.  I got one friend on board, she invited another, then backed out.  So I buddied up with this new found friend, and we gave it a go!

I had meet her before, because our boys go to school together, but we didn’t really get to know each other until this 5K came up and we started chatting a bit on Facebook.  She even invited Ben and I to do the Man vs. Mud 5 K in August after we run the half marathon.

I just LOVE meeting people with similar interests!  It’s the best!

Even though we only had two of us on our team, I went ahead and made us some t-shirts:

I knew it was only a 5K, but I had concerns about the paint and my asthma.  And for a week I seriously had anxiety about doing it.  I didn’t want my new friend to think I was a wuss.  But I sucked up my anxiety and went for it anyway.

I was also worried that my new friend would think I was too slow.  I have run with others before and they always got discouraged with me over my pace.  I have had people jump around me telling me to “keep going” and I “could do it!” — which works opposite for me… it makes me want to walk.  I don’t like people up in my face when I know my body better than anyone.  The only person who can push me, is me.  Really, truly… otherwise, I just want to punch some faces.  So I was worried I was going to run too slow and my new friend might be one of these well-meaning weenies.

But she wasn’t.  She was great!  Such a good sport and we had a blast!

We actually did really well.  Most the people there were walkin’ folk.  I tell you, it did wonders to my self-esteem to pass up so many people.  We were actually passing people from the first heat who took off 15-20 minutes BEFORE we did.  Feeling pretty pumped after, we congratulated ourselves on our great run by dancing with college kids.  We totally owned Y.M.C.A.

I am looking forward to MUCH more fun runs this summer!  Do you have a fun one planned?