For quite some time now, running a 5k has been on my bucket list. The first time I actually planned to do it was right before the pandemic hit– I had been training a bit early 2020 and was looking into races in the soon coming spring. When we did get quarantined, I assumed things would be back to normal by summer, so kept practicing on the treadmill in my basement. That summer I got COVID and it messed up my body a bit, so I gave running a rest, and picked it up again the next spring. Summer came again and I was off to Honduras, so I embraced the delicious foods and lack of safe running trails until I got back. I signed up in February and did a little bit of C25K (Couch to 5k, a free and legit plan to get you in shape for completing a full race) again, slowly bringing myself from someone who runs an occasional mile at the gym to making it a bit more of a routine. As luck would have it I got sick multiple times in those months, so my training was not the best, but I still went at it when I could.

This Saturday I finally got to put my body to the test at the St. Louis Color Run 5k. I chose it because, I mean, it looks like a total blast. What’s better than loud pop music and crowds of people throwing colorful powders at you? While my nerves and the cold wind made my first mile a bit rough, I warmed up quickly and found joy in the festiveness of it all. Running side by side with others doing the same also helped immensely for my motivation. Often when I run alone, I feel tired or get that pain in my side and just stop. Now, I couldn’t allow myself to do that, there was this sense of friendly competition in the air among those of us running it.

By the time I saw the finish line, I turned my music off and let myself feel accomplished as I ran through the pile of foam and bubbles at the end. Allowing yourself to feel delight and pride in yourself can take some time to get used to, but arguably what better time to than at the end of a literal race? My time was 35 minutes according to my Fitbit and phone timers, which was a little higher than I expected, but not awful either. I realize more practice could easily get that time down further. The rest of the time I munched on the free snacks sponsors of the race brought and joined in throwing the colored powders. Finally, I returned to my car, dusted myself off, and drove back to Carbondale, sore, hungry, and happy. I hope to do another race in the coming months, maybe with a little more preparation this time.

Happy reading,
-Beppa