5K Colour Run!
- Ella's World
- Feb 26, 2019
- 3 min read
I am quite possibly one of the most unfit people I know - I can't run up the stairs without getting worn out. So, last weekend I decided to take part in a colour run, not realising until after I had agreed to go that it was actually 5K...
Last Saturday, my housemate had organised a colourful fun run to raise money for the Ghanaian Book Connection.
The idea behind this organisation is that British schools provide old textbooks to be sent out to Ghana. In return, children from Ghanaian schools are expected to write back and tell us more about life in Ghana and what the textbooks are being used for.
People are encouraged by this university organisation to contact their old schools to share the idea and get more people involved. Fundraising activities such as bake sales then take place to raise money to cover the shipping costs.
This is where the colour run came in.
I decided to go for a bit of fun, thinking a colour run was something I’d always been interested to try. It meant that I was supporting the fundraiser and also my housemate who had helped to organise it - and she did a great job.
I arrived on campus where we signed up and got painted – using cornflower, water and natural, biodegradable dye products to make the paint.
A group of us (all of which were part of an athletics team, or were long distance runners, sports trainees – except me) got paint thrown at us, head to toe.
I must say that the photographers did a fine job of presenting me as the most expressive person there. Everyone looked fairly accepting of having paint thrown at their faces, whereas I was squinting, scowling and flailing my arms about in all sorts of directions.
The paint throwing action was fun, but then came the running.
Now, bear in mind that Zumba and walking is about the only exercise I do. Heck, I even ran about ten meters for the bus the other day and did my knee in, so when the map of our running track was explained, I was a little intimidated by the distance. And the hills.
We did two 2 and a half kilometer laps around campus, covering all sorts of ground; downhill, uphill, up steps, across gravel. What made it even more interesting was that the photographers were hidden around almost every corner, ready to snap you at your most sweaty.
About half way through the first lap I inevitably got a rather painful stitch, and continued to run at the very back for the entire thing - not intentionally, I would have paced it like everyone else if I had the stamina.
By the time we had reached the end of the first lap for a quick re-paint and water break, the long-distance sprinters had finished their final lap before I had even started!
Admittedly, I did have to walk part of the way round the second time, as I listened to my body telling me I might throw up if I ran any more. Of course, I legged it past the cameras, trying to pretend that I was breezing through it.
Other people added an extra lap in just for fun.
Two days on and my legs were still absolutely killing me. I had to carry my shopping home from Sainsburys yesterday and my-oh-my was I slow.
It is incredibly difficult to walk down the stairs and if I bend down, I think I might cry.
However, despite my increasing pain and paint-stained clothes, I am quite chuffed with myself for completing the run. Although I struggled immensely, I still did it, and for a good cause.
I had some great support even though I was last over the finish line, and I don’t think I will consider running anywhere ever again, but it was fun.
Fair play to everyone who ran the track on Saturday. I’m glad I can tick the colour run off of my list, but I think it’s fair to say that running is not for me!
Find out more about the Ghanaian Book Connection here:
or follow them on Instagram @ghanaianbookconnection
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