"Quality Color Time"

                             ~ Saturday June 29th, 2013 ~

"Quality Color Time"

Saturday June 29th 2013 and another star off the bucket list folks :) For a few years now I have been wanting to run in the infamous 5k Color Run. 3.1 miles of run fun accompanied by stations that blast you with amazing color to your favorite music jams :) Sound Amazing?? You bet it was! However... this smiling, successful finish was not accomplished with out the best running partner & encourager, and some massive prayer bursts, especially in my last mile.

I am a regular runner. I love running for decompression and sweet prayer time. My short runs are about 2-3 miles. My long runs between 4.5-6. I know what you're saying. "Tanya, then why in the world would you have any problems with a measly 3.1 miles ?" Trust me when I say it was only the elements involved that did not make for a smooth running performance. I did not drink a lick of water before the race (because we got up to drive to the race at 5am and I didn't want to stop anywhere and loose time), and it just happened to be about 97 degrees outside at 8:00a.m. when we arrived, and our race didn't start until 9:30a.m :-/ So the game changer, I was dehydrated :( Yes, sad face. Only this girl was so pumped and excited that it literally didn't hit me until half way through the race.




Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe I was distracted by the fun color stations and the bouncing back and forth of the go pro camera we brought with us to document the event. Sure thing though, it catches you by surprise and slows you down real fast :( Every breath was accounted for, from the moment I felt the first feeling of nausea, to the white blotchy spots I began to see. Whew, but I'll tell you what, the moment you push and see the glimmer of the finish line... it is all down hill from there, literally. We sprinted to the finish, crossed the line, congratulated ourselves, got water, joined the color party and... I crashed.





By that time I had drank water, but it was just not enough. Again here came the nausea and blotchy spots, only this time piercing stomach pain that made me drop to the grass unable to walk.  Sound a bit dramatic? yes. At the time? no. I tried to keep my cool because I was embarrassed, I really did not want to throw up, but honestly I was really super scared. I didn't understand what was happening inside me:( Luckily a medic walking around saw me and noted my symptoms and made me go to the medic tent to rest and get checked out.

A little while in the shade, under some medic supervision, the mysterious calming effects of

 Mr. Justin Cook, a major water ingestion and my heart rate was normal again. I did not throw up or pass out thank goodness. Although I'm sure you were hoping I went out with a bang... sorry folks, not this race;) Especially when my recovery was so saweet. It was nothing a calm drive home, a quick crush cupcake stop and an In N Out dinner couldn't fix ;) But some major lessons were learned here. Drink Water, Drink Water, and Drink Water! Even if you have to stop a thousand times on your way to the race. Being equip to run your race is essential. And you can't always control the elements and conditions. But as for the things you can control... like hydration,... best do it well.

And lastly, for those of us choosing to 'run the race' for a crown that will last forever. Same rules apply. If the full armor is not on, can we really expect success? Life / 'the run' is hard enough as it is on its own. I myself would like to have as much help, strength and protection as possible. 

For with that, at least I can say I did all that I could, prayed it up and gave it my best :) 

Here's to running more races with more than exceptional team mates who bring more color to my life than a million color stations could:) Oh, and did I mention I'm running my first half marathon in October? Stay tuned ;)

"... Run in such a way to get the prize. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever..."
1 Corinthians 9:24-27