Over the last three years I have been working on getting myself healthier. It started with dieting and exercise and eventually losing 80 pounds – so far (I have 50 more to go!). I continue to work on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the weight loss journey, I have been rewarding myself with fun “treats” – simultaneously crossing items off my “bucket list.” A few such fun treats have included Ziplining across the Nantahala as well as white water rafting down that river when I turned 50. I have never raced in my life, but heard about how much fun the Color Run is, and I really wanted to do it! It is a run where people dress up in crazy colorful costumes, with many wearing colored tutus, and it is designed for walkers and families, so I figured “How difficult can it be?” However, shortly after signing up for it, I thought about not doing it. I was fearful of making a spectacle of myself if I collapsed on the race course. I suffer with Fibromyalgia, arthritis, a huge ventral hernia, and a breathing issue that is still to be determined. But I had three goals and I resolved to do it! Here I am, dressed and ready to go!

7,000+ people participated in the run. I decided that I wanted to be there early enough so that I could be in the first “wave.” I was the very 1st person to step through the start gate!!! I even got to keep the Start tape!

At every kilometer, colored cornstarch is sprayed at runners as they pass through a matching colored balloon arch. At the end of the race, every runner looks like a swamp creature between the sweat and running colors!

I can’t believe we had THREE hills to climb, and that last hill SUCKED!!! But, we DO live in the mountains!!! The last mile was painful for me, but I knew my Angels were helping to push me through!!!

Shortly after passing the final Color Station, I could hear the party music blaring from the YMCA campus – where the race started and ended. In the near distance, I saw the multicolored balloons of the Finish Line.

OMG!!!!! I FREAKING MADE IT!!!!!?? I had met all three of my goals!!!

1) I showed up – fear didn’t win. 2) I finished the run!!! 3) I didn’t finish last!! … I was ONE PROUD WOMAN!!!

Crossing under the Finish Line balloons gave me an amazingly high feeling of exhilaration! As I passed from under the Finish line balloons on towards the after-party and stage area, I was greeted with a great cloud of many colors in celebration of our accomplishment!

Thank you God for allowing me to be testimony to what can be done when you don’t give up on yourself.

Tired, looking like a Smurf, but darn PROUD of this accomplishment! By the way, I had so much fun on the Color Run, I’ve signed up for another Run!!! The Glow in the Dark Color Rave 5k at Carrier Park. Look for that story coming soon!

Written by Rose-Marie Vieira of Event Horizons Photography