Color Me Rad!

Color Runs have been HUGE this year so Lu and I signed up for Color Me Rad in Tampa so that we could see for ourselves what all the fuss was about! We weren't quite sure what to expect but dressed in white T-shirts just like they recommend on their website and bought some matching bandanas to get ready for some color...

 

 

 

The atmosphere was amazing when we got there - the DJ was playing great tunes and everyone was dancing and having a great time!

 

 

Start line fun...

 

 

After 5 different color stations (3 powder and 2 liquid - one for each K) we were all finished! We both said it was the fastest 5K we'd ever done - not because we were running super fast ;) but because the time just flew by! The crowd and spectators were really great - everyone was just so happy the whole time :).

 

I love our 'Team Daaaaaamnnn! 'sweaty hug' picture!!!!

 

 

The paint is just cornstarch so not dangerous at all (so they say;)) and they have tons of water stations since it does make you thirsty. It's not difficult at all to get completely covered in paint and get some great pics for facebook :)

 

 

It is, however, far more challenging to get one of those fancy 'jumping' shots. But we had a blast trying and these solid efforts were my fave pics of the day in the end - they still make me laugh out loud :)

 

 

Aaah - the old faithful 'back to back' shot...always a winner :)

 

I can't wait to do another color run and totally recommend them to anyone! If I were a doctor I'd be prescribing Color Runs for depression - it would be completely impossible not to have a fantastic time. :)

 

Definitely one of the BEST runs ever!!!!

 

Great race picture!

Loved the picture of us that the race photographer took for the Miles for Milk facebook page!

Miles for Milk

Today there was a big 5K on idrive to promote tourism in Orlando so we decided instead to support a small, local run in a pretty park on a lake for an amazing cause - Florida's first milk bank :)

 

 

Bill Frederick Park is absolutely beautiful...

 

 

And they had signs throughout the race with facts about the cause...http://www.milkbankofflorida.org/....

 

The run was surprisingly hilly and hot as expected. No chips or fanfare - just a couple of hundred people getting together to raise money. It was really perfect - my kind of run :)

Corporate 5K

The annual IOA Corporate 5K is Orlando’s biggest office party! Held exclusively for Florida’s corporate community; businesses and non-profit organizations form teams and participate in the Corporate 5K for camaraderie, friendly competition and celebrating with co-workers. The participating population is made up of over 15,000 runners and walkers from over 700 companies and non-profit organizations. This year, half of the proceeds were donated to the families impacted by the recent bombings at the finish line of the Boston marathon.

Our running group at work have come a long way in just a year:). Last year the annual Corporate 5K was our first team race (see last year's post here). This year we had over 28 runners/walkers - a big increase from our 18 partcipants last time. It was really nice to share the "first 5K experience" with some of my work family!

 

We ended the night making plans for Ragnar...hope we can pull it off in 2014!

 

 

It was a very moving night - and I so love being a part of this amazing community. Super hot and slow race but that's 8 done so far for 2013 and I'm managing to get my training runs in a bit more often now which is my main focus for the year. Life is good :)

Windermere Run Among the Lakes

The 12th Annual Run Among the Lakes 5K through Windermere town center was only about 10 minutes from our new home and where we sometimes run at the weekends anyway. It was really nice to do a smaller, local, pretty race with a lovely community feel.

 

Team Daaaaamnnn!!!!

 

 

The race route was on sand for the most part and quite hilly but very scenic. I really love running by lakes:). There were lots of residents who came out to cheer us along too!

 

There were tech T-shirts too with the registration and they were adorable :)

 

The weather's gotten hot again suddenly and inconsistent training has left me struggling to run a full 5K again. So the goal for today was just to run the whole thing which I was thrilled that I managed to do! It was really tough and super sweaty :) 

 

 

Now I just have to keep up with training through Summer and do at least one event per month. I can do this!!!

 

AMR Pics!

American Mud Race!

Mary (my longest friendship of over 35 years!) came to visit and joined Team Daaaaammn! for our second American Mud Race :)

 

 

We showed Mary the American bad-ass devil sign for photo opportunities throughout the race...

 

But she was more comfortable with the good ol' English finger point

Not sure which country does this kind of nonsense...

 

The race was really fun and just what I needed to get back on track after after way too much over-indulgence and lack of running over the past couple of weeks :). There were so many inspirational people - this guy completed the whole race with only one leg...

 

 

Team Daaaaaaammmn! - muddy and done :)

 

Soooo happy to have my Lu back!

 

 

Mike loved helping his girls over all of the obstacles...

 

And it was so lovely for me to get to share the experience with my Mary. Cheers!