Color Me ...

Before and After - sunburn or paint??

Undecided.  Today Molly, Marilyn (since she's in town for a conference), and I were scheduled to do the Color Run, a 5K where you basically run/walk/whatever for 3 miles and volunteers throw powdered paint on you.  We were wavering on whether to do it, but when Marilyn came downstairs in her race attire, we decided to go ahead and do it.

Hot.  The race did not start until 9am, which is pretty much hot-thirty these days in Nashville. There were about two clouds in the sky, and they were staying as far away from the sun as possible (good move, clouds).  So the sun was shining brightly down on the race course.  Which had no shade.  Ergo, it was hot, people.

With Colors.  We went through a few of the color stations (more about that next) and got doused with the paint.  Of course it seemed that every time someone threw the powder at me, my arm was in the way, so I have a very colorful arm.  My shirt - not so much.

A Shirker.  At some point out on the course (like maybe just after we crossed the start line), someone brought up the possibility of perhaps cutting out part of the course.  Like where there's a down and back. Or a turn-off where the group going keeps going, and the group coming back turns.  Not saying who suggested what or where, but our 5K turned into more of an almost 2 miler.  Like it mattered.  Most everybody was walking and the sun was blazing and there was no time limit.

Relieved.  Finally we entered the speedway (this was held at the Nashville speedway because last year when they had this event, it was held downtown.  It rained and the paint got on people's cars and there was a big brouhaha, so they had to change locations), and saw the finish line in sight.  We finished and kept walking to the car.  Uphill.  In the bright sun.

Done.  I do not plan to do this ever again.  Which I said the last time I did this.  I really need a filter, like a Mr. T bodybuilder bouncer type who will say, "No Fool - you ain't gonna do that again."

And finally, color me sad.  Last night we got the word that KB's mom, Ms. Ruth, passed away, surrounded by her loving family. Although we know Heaven welcomed her with open arms and she joined her husband again, she will be missed so dearly back here.  But today, I have to think that bright sunlight that shone on us this morning was so bright because Ms. Ruth had joined the angels.  That Heaven is a brighter place because she's there.  And that it was a sign that she's in a much better place, free from health problems and the constraints that kept her from doing everything she wanted to do here. So today's race is for Ms. Ruth.  Today you don't have to worry about a broken hip or a knee replacement or a walker or a wheelchair.  Today you can run with the joy that Heaven brings.  Keep that sun shining, Ms. Ruth - you are greatly loved and greatly missed.

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Today was a great day because:  Color Me Rad race and Sonic with Marilyn and Molly; Everley and Lindley time; boiled shrimp dinner with most of the family