For the past six months, I have had the urge to run in a long distance race; but what I did not know was that distance was a positive starting point for me. While volunteering with a colleague of mine, Brittany Hymes, she said she had just participated in a relay race that very morning. Hymes ran in the “Relay for Life” run prior to our volunteer efforts.
I was intrigued by what I just heard, because I have been looking to participate in a race for some time. In particular., I was looking for my first outing to be a run that was not demanding in length or highly competitive. Hymes asked if I would be interested in running the Akron 5K Color Vibe, which took place April 27 at the Summit County Fairgrounds. The ColorVibe offers a unique element of dabbing participants with a variety colors as runners pass the color stations throughout the event.
Hymes mentioned she did not want to run it alone, so I figured we could motivate each other throughout the event, and I could prepare myself for longer races in the future.
Because this was my first time to run a 5K, fun was the most important factor with preparation a close second. I have been working on cardio training since April 7, the day after learning about the race. My cardio workout leading up to the race comprised treadmill runs for 30 minutes, pickup games of basketball and swimming in the pool. I was looking to come out of my first race with a sense of satisfaction that I have finished and successfully completed my goal.
Because many people run for different reasons, I expected to see a lot of different approaches during the race. A lot of individuals are striving to get back in shape, some want to stay in shape, and other participants want to have fun with a group of friends or family.
Haleigh Marino, a registered participant, spoke about how she will run the color race: “I am running with my stepsister and her friend; I guess you could say that it is a tiny group, but I also know a ton of other people that are doing the Color Vibe too.”
I’m glad to have participated in the Color Vibe 5k — it was a fun first element and it’s a good start for me as I pursue other races. A 5k is something I can handle, and the Color Vibe is a fun race to run that doesn’t involve all the stamina as a marathon or even a half marathon.
As Jamie Rollo put it, “It’s super fun and I always feel motivated because there are always a lot of people who cheer you on. It’s a great time with fun entertainment/bands on the sidelines, a variety of nutrient-rich foods at the finish line and exciting pre-race music. The amount of people who are in the race is unbelievable, thousands attend.”
“I chose to run the Color Vibe because it’s not your run-of-the-mill, everyday race. I have been trying to involve myself in more athletic events, and this happened to catch my eye because of the uniqueness.” said Stef Misciagna, another registered participant in this past weekend’s Color Vibe. She added, “Even though the Color Vibe is mainly for fun and not so much competitive in nature. There is always a competition with myself.”
Many things were on my mind throughout the race; I kept a promise to a colleague, a promise to myself by keeping active and staying in shape, and, most importantly, I dedicated the race to the people who suffered from the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy. I wanted to run for something greater than my personal satisfaction, and the events that occurred in Boston last Monday was more than enough motivation to get through the fatigue I faced.
I am also glad to know that this race benefited people in need; perhaps the best thing about the race was that the Color Vibe partnered with local charities.
“We partner with local charities and nonprofit organizations in each of the cities we hold our events,” said Cody Williams, the event director of the Color Vibe run. For the Akron area, the Color Vibe Run partnered with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
The Color Vibe run is very a popular race, and its popularity is growing; it had 197,077 likes on Facebook, and many events sold out around the nation. I prepared myself by training and remaining motivated. This event also helped me train for more lengthy races in the future, and I have gained an experience of a lifetime.
For more information, visit www.thecolorvibe.com.
