Color Run - Ventura, California

It's safe to say I enjoyed my first 5k - Run or Dye style!

I didn't get that colorful, but I am most certainly happy with that result.  We ran in the misty hills of Ojai, California in the 9am circuit.  I didn't bring a watch or my iPhone tracker to identify my time and in accordance with the "fun run" purposes of this 6,500 participant event, there were no stopwatches or trackers.  I really felt however, that it was only about 2  1/2 miles.  It went by too fast and it was way too fun.

My expectations Saturday morning weren't very high.    

I drove with my mom, dad and little sister and we were meeting 4 of our friends for the "race". 

I woke up at 7, it was cold outside, I had to go to the bathroom and I was about to run around outside in the cold and get dirty.  I wasn't looking forward to it.  

I said audibly "I hate running."  Why was I doing this to myself?

I was laughing sarcastically at my attitude.  It's true.  I don't like running.  I "just do it" anyways.  

Like eating green beans or spinach smoothies.  No one really like those things.  

Once I got the the porta-pottys (ok, no judgement), I felt a lot better!  

The staff and volunteers at Run or Dye were energetic and funny and being with my friends and family cheered up my spirits so I started the run off on a great pace.  

 Here's me with my beautiful mommy and also my beautiful sister 

who's still smiling under a face full of colorful cornstarch. 

Because there were lots of rocks, branches and even boulders at times, and we were a large crowd, we had to to walk at certain points.  Other than that, we ran and I was proud of myself, even though, as you know, I hate running.  

So, if you hate running like me, try a Color Run because you can walk and talk, run a little or do it all with very little pressure.  With so many happy people around, it was easy to forget that you were running.  It was a beautiful day in the hills of Ojai and strangers were throwing rainbows at each other.

Who could ask for anything more?

From the Happy Runner.

Running After Blueberry Pancakes

This morning I ran my first 5k-  that's like 3.2 miles!  I couldn't believe I finished.  I hated it!  Like, a lot!  But I had to because my husband signed us up for a Zombi 5k in St. George, Utah and oh, yeah, it's THIS WEEKEND!!!

I am so nervous.  A zombie is going to run after me, pull my flag and I am going to be dead... as long as i don't faint first, because, oh yeah, it's still super hot in St. George.

So the last few months I have been "practicing" and have been running 1-2 miles 2-4 times a week!  THAT's good for me.  I felt healthy and happy and my daily runs gave me "permission" to snack more or have dessert later in the day (but let's face it, i'll eat it either way.)  This past weekend, while house/child/dog sitting, we went out to breakfast on Saturday to a restaurant that the boy suggested.  It was my first time to this restaurant whose motto was: "Better than Breakfast in Bed!" and which I have nicknamed, Stinky Jinky's, because it made me very sick.  Turns out, months before it had made my mom sick also.  Here's my mom's story first:

She doesn't usually go out to breakfast, because my mom is super awesome, hard working and thinks going out to eat at 9 in the morning is a waste of time.  I mean, why spend all you morning over a single meal, then, on top of it all, you have to spend the remainder of your wasted day on the toilet!?  Thanks for stealing my ENTIRE day Stinky Jinky's!

My story was that I ordered the Wild Blueberry, Banana, Strawberry Pancakes for $11.99 and all it was 3 pancakes with some fruit on top- REALLY!?!?! so that was super disappointing! Can't they have some culinary creativity back there instead of just plopping stuff on top on pancakes, really?? is a fourth grader back there!? because i'm sure he or she would be capable of making my 12 dollar breakfast.  Anyway, around 3:00, I headed for the bathroom and spent the remainder of the next few days wasting hours inside.  I would go into some detail about the discomfort, smells and the blueberry images, but, oops..

On Sunday, about 28 hours after the pancake consumption, we went on a walk.  It was about 3/4 of a mile from the house we were working at, to my parents house.  Halfway through the walk, I got goosebumps, it was BAD folks.  I RAN uphill, up two hills, and like I said, I never run.  So you could tell, I was pretty desperate!  It was awful!!  I got to my parents house and my dear mom helped me out. I was singing a Haleigh chorus when I found the garage door open, because at this point, every second counted!  I was so mad at those stupid twelve dollar Wild poopberry pancakes, stinky jinky's, you suck!

So, this weekend, if Zombies running after me isn't enough to encourage me to go faster, I will remember this Sunday, and run like the blueberry pancakes are coming for revenge, but please, please, please- Don't!