On Sunday, I did the Color Run at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds. It was an experience unlike any other. Before I tell you more about the day, let’s take a look into the past.
I arrived at the race and checked in, crumpling my race number (for the aerodynamics) and pinning it on. I checked out the course map, and, even though I’d run it before, walked the course. As race time got closer, I did a warm-up run, stretched, and did form running. I made sure my shoes were double-knotted, took one last swig from my water bottle, and lined up at the starting line with the rest of the 9-years-and-under kids for the half mile road race.
I arrived at the race and checked in, crumpling my race number (for the aerodynamics) and pinning it on. I checked out the course map, and, even though I’d run it before, walked the course. As race time got closer, I did a warm-up run, stretched, and did form running. I made sure my shoes were double-knotted, took one last swig from my water bottle, and lined up at the starting line with the rest of the 9-years-and-under kids for the half mile road race.
Pow Wow Road Race 1996 I was that kid. We traveled all over for races: The Belmont Stakes Road Race in Jackson (which my dad organized), the Mountain Lake Pow Wow Road Race, the St. James Rail Run, the Heron Lake-Okabena Corn and Pork Run, and so many more. I started running about the time I started walking and I remember chasing records, PRs (Personal Records), and medals, ribbons, and trophies from a young age. Running was fun, but it was really about competition: trying to be better than those around you, and most importantly, better yourself.
Middle school, high school, and college all brought on a new level of competition. I was faced with some devastating illnesses and injuries and my career looks much like female mood swings with the highest of highs and lowest of lows; but I constantly knew I had to get myself back and be a competitor again. The numbers, the miles, the times. They were all-important.
Middle school, high school, and college all brought on a new level of competition. I was faced with some devastating illnesses and injuries and my career looks much like female mood swings with the highest of highs and lowest of lows; but I constantly knew I had to get myself back and be a competitor again. The numbers, the miles, the times. They were all-important.
I heard about the Color Run from my cousin who ran it last summer. A race where you start wearing white, they squirt color at you, and you finish as a marvelous tie-dye masterpiece? What’s not to love? I signed up to run with my cousin this year, but she had to cancel. I enlisted a running buddy to take my cousin’s spot: the girl who took me to run mile repeats with the varsity cross country team when we were only in elementary, the girl who jogged in place at stoplights to keep her heart rate up (again, as an elementary kid), and a best friend since birth! When we were kids, Julia and I said that if we ever lost touch, we would meet again at the starting line in the 800 at the Olympics (haha!).
Julia and I are both still runners, but now it’s less about competition and more about fun, and most importantly using that time as a meeting place with God and to take a break from the world for a while. We still have those competitive bones, however. When I heard the race wasn’t timed, I was glad, because 3.1 miles seems daunting to me right now with some health issues I’ve been dealing with. I was even more thankful to be running it with a trusted friend, enjoying ourselves instead of pushing it.
Julia and I are both still runners, but now it’s less about competition and more about fun, and most importantly using that time as a meeting place with God and to take a break from the world for a while. We still have those competitive bones, however. When I heard the race wasn’t timed, I was glad, because 3.1 miles seems daunting to me right now with some health issues I’ve been dealing with. I was even more thankful to be running it with a trusted friend, enjoying ourselves instead of pushing it.
We arrived at the race an hour-and-a-half early, hoping to get an idea of the course (see, it never leaves!). We realized that, though we were signed up for the 3rd and final race of the morning, there wasn’t just 3 waves of runners. Everyone just kind of meandered toward the starting line when they felt like it and every couple minutes they would start a new group of Color Runners. We were also shocked to watch the groups that had already started and see a huge amount of people just walking. In fact, once our blob of white shirts began the race, we found ourselves having to jog slowly, weave in and out of people, and sometimes even walk behind a group. Even if we had wanted to, I don’t think we could have raced it.
The concept was so foreign to us. People stopped to take pictures, rolled around on the ground and did “snow” angels at the color stations to get more color, and overall, had one big party that happened to be moving forward for 3.1 miles.
Because of my current health issues, it was good. It forced me to slow down, to not push myself beyond what was healthy. In the peak of my training, it might have been a little harder for me to handle. But I think this type of run can be a good thing. It slows you down a little bit, makes you remember that running is really about having fun and being healthy. For 60% of Color Runners, this is their first 5K. It’s motivation to get out and run to get ready for the race.
The concept was so foreign to us. People stopped to take pictures, rolled around on the ground and did “snow” angels at the color stations to get more color, and overall, had one big party that happened to be moving forward for 3.1 miles.
Because of my current health issues, it was good. It forced me to slow down, to not push myself beyond what was healthy. In the peak of my training, it might have been a little harder for me to handle. But I think this type of run can be a good thing. It slows you down a little bit, makes you remember that running is really about having fun and being healthy. For 60% of Color Runners, this is their first 5K. It’s motivation to get out and run to get ready for the race.
These new runners are discovering what we already knew – running can be fun. The Color Run brought back good memories of the Cone Game – one of my favorite days of high school cross country practice. The coaches hid markers underneath a bunch of cones and then showed one member of each team a matching marker. The runners ran to each cone and looked underneath, and when they found the right color, they’d call their team members. The whole team ran to the cone, and the runner marked each team member’s arm, leg, face, etc. Yeah, it sounds weird. But 20,000 people basically did the same thing on Sunday in the name of fun and fitness.
Those of us who call ourselves runners have something to learn, as well. It’s not all about the times, or beating people, or pushing your body to the point of exhaustion. That has its own place and its own benefits, but sometimes, you gotta step back, enjoy the gift you’ve been given, and just run.
Those of us who call ourselves runners have something to learn, as well. It’s not all about the times, or beating people, or pushing your body to the point of exhaustion. That has its own place and its own benefits, but sometimes, you gotta step back, enjoy the gift you’ve been given, and just run.
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