#40 Color and Glow 5K Run

I have reached 80%.....

#40 was the Color & Glow Run held at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in lovely Dayton, OH.  This event is much like the Color Run (#33), but at night.  And the color (which is highlighted with the use of a blacklight) does NOT wash out of your clothes.

So let's review some basics. When you sign up for a run at night, it's going to be dark.  Let's say that again.  Hey, dummy, when you sign up for a night race, you will not be able to see because your night vision sucks.

Okay.  Got it.  The review is complete.

There are 5 stations throughout the race highlighted with black-lights (think 1970's posters) where volunteers spray the runners with liquid colorant.  It's sprayed from pump dispenser cans used to apply weed killer or DDT or used in a delousing event. Do we have a good visual ?  All of a sudden, I am not looking forward to this.

The entire course is marked by small orange plastic cones. As we arrive and check in, they are everywhere.  And nothing is lit up.  So as it gets darker, we are wondering "how do you see the course?"  And the answer is: You don't.  Oh, okay ...cool.


As we start the race, we meander back and forth, over and under, to and fro until I see the blacklights up ahead and searched for the volunteer sprayers......I didn't know what to expect until I got a blast of it in my face.  

Awesome.  And yes, that stuff got in my mouth.

Our route takes us in circles around the rutted horse track. Back and forth, up and down, zigzagging, on grass, on pavement, following the cones (the ones you can't see in the dark.)  Marauding hordes of people, wearing glow bands, and glow-in-the-dark paint.  The map below is NOT an exaggeration.

After stumbling and shuffling around the course for a bit, we cross the finish line into a gallery of blacklights.  Neither of us have our cameras, so we ask someone to take our picture and send to me.  On the way home we realize that it wasn't sent, so a quick stop at Walmart (at 10 PM, covered in glow paint) I purchase a blacklight. (With a wink to the cashier, "going to be a big night, yes sir!").

Things I learned at the Color and Glow run:

1.  I am blind.  Whether there are lights on or not.

2.  I am certain I have killed any bacteria living in my body as a results of accidentally swallowing some of the colorant.

3.  I shouldn't sign waivers for "fun" activities.  It's a red flag.

4.  The Color Runs are simply an excuse to throw paint on other people.  (I could do this at home for free.)

5.  I do not like running in the dark.

Yes, it washed off my skin,  just not the clothes

And the bonus is that I now own a blacklight.  Probably will use it with my gorilla costume.

#39 Tunnels to Towers

"What you do for yourself, goes with you when you die.  What you do for others, remains as your legacy."

These were the opening words of the #39 5K held at Spring Grove Cemetery.  Sponsored by the Steven Siller Foundation, this 5K honored the 343 firefighters and first responders who were killed in New York City on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center buildings. One of the many projects the Foundation supports is funding "Smart Homes" with adaptive technology for firefighters who suffer a catastrophic injury. 

Steve Siller was off duty and heading out to play golf with his three brothers when the call came in.  The World Trade Center had been hit.  He, and his fellow firefighters, rushed into the fray of the burning buildings.  Everyone else is rushing out.  He died when the towers collapsed, leaving a wife, five children, a large extended family and a brotherhood of fellow firefighters. 

One of the race participants, Geniene, told me that the last piece of the race was difficult.  She was right.

The final quarter mile of the race route has posters with pictures of each individual firefighter who lost their life on that day, including Steven Siller.    I was struck by how young they were.  And how many.  It went on and on.  Average age of NYC firefighter killed on September 11th was just under 40 years old.  Towards the end of the line were two additional posters with pictures of the two local Colerain Township firefighters who lost their lives in a house fire in 2008.

I have been to several races at Spring Grove, but none as moving as this one.  I, like everyone else, remember where I was when I heard the news of the terrorist attacks and the aftermath of the following days, weeks and months as crews cleared the debris from the wreckage sites.  I remember the numbness.  And the patriotism.  It felt good to participate in an event that honors individuals who put their lives on the line on a daily basis.

Full gear weighs an additional 30 pounds

Many of the participants ran in full gear, as a tribute to their fallen colleagues.  The day wasn't unbearably hot and I was determined to keep the fireman running just ahead of me within my sight.  He was running in full gear and tank on his back. And he still managed to beat me.  As Jo, so graciously pointed out, he was no spring chicken. It was demoralizing.  
Hey, I'm ahead of everyone on the couch.  And those people pushing the stroller...  and those little kids over there.  And the elderly couple who turned back and didn't finish.  I beat them too.

#38 Mercy Metric 5K

We are closing in on the finish.  Just like Jane Fonda, we are starting to feel the burn.   #38 was the Mercy Metric 5K.  Held on Labor Day, it benefited the after school programs at Mercy Montessori School.

It was a small race...only 110 participants in the 5k.  The route was a simple out and back...starting and ending at the Lunken Airport Playfield.  During my last race, (with the princesses) I had shin splints.  That means every time I run, my shins hurt like nothing else.  When I stride forward, my legs are screaming "Bitch, don't do that.  You gonna regret that, uh-huh"

Rocky's translation of my predicament is "Lucy is a wimp."  So with that in mind, Rocky has generously offered to run with me, because clearly I am doing something horribly wrong.  (Oh, be still my heart.  A "real" runner is going to offer her expertise.  Oh, the rapture.)  My translation of this turn of events: "This will suck...a lot."  Before that race, I purchased compression sleeves for my shins to ease to pain.  (They didn't help, but more on that later.) 

Between the pain in my legs and Rocky's never ending commentary on my bad running form: 
        
         Why do you swing your arms?  You are wasting energy. 
        Why are you going so fast?   You don't have to go so fast. 
        We don't care about the other runners.  Why do you step like
         that?  Why do you land so hard on each step? You must act
         like a cat and step lightly.   Why do you breathe that way? 

Seriously?  You are going to start bitching about how I breathe?  Who are you ?  My kids?  It is astounding to me that I have managed to make it through the challenge thus far with out her interference assistance.

Then she ramps it up.....just a bit.

In addition to her incessant sniping over my running form, she begins to suggest any male within ten yards as a potential date.  Now, luckily there aren't that many males in the race, however, this added torture makes me think "I am in Hell."  I am cursing myself silently and I should have brought my iPod.

Towards the end of the race, it begins to rain.  It is so muggy out that this is a welcomed relief.  Not only does it relieve the heat, Rocky runs faster to get out of the rain.  I manage to finish the race with a decent time, but still in pain.  (Insert Rocky's deep concern here.)

Jo finished well before me and lo, and behold, won some bling.  She placed first in her division.  I have created a monster.   

Like I have said before, this challenge has offered me the opportunity to meet people that I would never have otherwise crossed paths.   However, since I just met them, I don't want to name them in this blog as they may not be familiar with my...how shall I put it? My sense of humor.  Yes, that's it.

Okay, that being said.  We went out to breakfast afterward with a new-found friend whom I will call "Stripper Girl." (Hey, no judgement.  All God's children.  It's okay.)   She shared with us the proofs from a recent photo shoot in which she explained the use of various ......accessories. It was a learning experience (and I am all about education) ..and accessories are so important to making a statement.  She was a blast.  And managed to keep up with our witty repartee.

#38 is done.  I am starting to think I may miss this when it's all over.....

#37 Lady Tutu 5K

Let's start out with the notion that I hate this idea.  Really, I do.  I don't want to dress up like a princess.  Don't want my daughter to dress like a princess.  Don't want to pass on the idea that girls (anyone...for that matter) should wait around in "rescue pose"...waiting on somebody or something to save them. I hate that the "Princess" idea pervades our society so much that girls choose beauty over brains or work.  

I would much rather teach my daughter that she is in charge of her destiny.  She has to do the hard work, learn the rules, put in the time and she can be successful (and beautiful, and talented, and powerful beyond measure) at whatever she does.

Magic fairy dust and a sparkly wand...do not a princess make.

That being said, the Lady Tutu 5k is marketed as a:             "womens-only event created to be a fun, memorable and personally rewarding for you - the Lady." (I did not write that...that came from their website and brochure....I cannot make this shit up.)  This sentence does not explain why these guys were there.  

                            
     

Whatever.  Moving on...The proceeds from the race benefit the "Make-A-Wish Foundation", so there is a silver lining. Had to look hard to find it.

Before the 5k, there is a Little Princess Dash (about 100 yards) for the 3-5 year old crowd and another slightly longer distance for the 6-8 year old group.  Then the 5k starts. 

It is 8:30 AM and already 95 degrees.  It is sticky and hot and generally unpleasant.  The route starts downtown on Pete Rose Way, winds around the football stadium and back, ending near Sawyer Point Park.  Some of the distance is actually in the shade, so I figure it won't be so bad.

However, I failed to take into account the "princesses."

Young girls ...dressed in fairy princess costumes ...complete with tiara, fairy wands, hair bows and glitter face paint.... whining to their moms... 

         "this is hard.  I'm hot.  You didn't tell me that I would
          have to run!  My skirt itches.  I don't want to wear this
          anymore!  I want to go back." 

Crying girls with their hair in a complicated up-do.  Glitter make-up streaking down their faces as sweat runs off their forehead.  They have clearly have been sold a bill of goods that didn't match up with the brochure or the hype.

The "best" one was the young lady about 11 years old.  She had a fancy up-do hair twist.  Glittery make-up streaming down her face, as she explained through her tears to her mom with racking sobs "You just don't understand!"  She was hot.  And tired. And clearly wanted to be anywhere else but on the Riverfront doing a 5K.  Her mother, was stoic... stayed by her daughter's side, continuing to walk and not saying a word.

I felt her pain.  The mom.  Not the daughter.  I, too, have been on that train.  

Have you ever tried to run in a fairy princess costume?  No, me neither.

However, I would consider this one:

#37 is done.