I equate myself
to Ferdinand, from Ferdinand the Bull. This classic children’s book revolves around
a big red bull that dislikes motion, he prefers to sit in the shade of trees
while smelling flowers. I like
Ferdinand; walking and hiking suit my style.
Both allow me to get my heart rate pumping, while also allowing me the
comforts of taking in my surroundings.
After
learning several families from our community were signing up for an organized run that
involved getting drenched, not in sweat, but with color, my interest was
perked! I discovered this run was
different, as a matter of fact, running was optional. There would be no timing. And tutus and fedoras were optional. Nearly
everyone participating would begin in a white t-shirt. Along the 5k path there were five archways,
each marking one kilometer. As participants would near each archway, their
ears would be greeted by upbeat musical tunes.
As they passed through, lines of Color Run folks would throw and spray
colored powder onto anyone and everyone that entered their pathway. By the end it would look as though bags of Skittles
had exploded onto each and every participant! As if this fun quirky event weren’t enough, I
also learned the motivation behind so many families attending.
Jan Workman. Her name precedes her. I would
like to say I know Jan personally, but I’ve only admired her from a
distance. She’s an active force within
our community. She’s involved in a Lifesaver
assortment of activities. I’ve often thought of turning her into a
verb, “Don’t push me or I’ll go Workman on you!”
Mrs.
Workman’s stamina and persistence have trained her for another kind of race,
the race against breast cancer. She now
finds herself keeping busy with chemotherapy and doctor appointments. I don’t like the combination of words: breast
and cancer. Having been exposed to their
ruthless behavior in the past (two of my aunts are breast cancer survivors) I
want this medical term to feel small and defeated, I want it crushed!
What better
way to crush the pavement than to have Jan Workman and loyal friends and family
join in the Color Run in Brussels! This event embodies the woman we had all gone
to support. There was a youthful spirit,
positive energy, and enough colors to turn a rainbow green with envy. Not unlike Mrs. Workman, the event was full of
personality and attracted the masses (some 10,000 attended). More importantly it reminded me why sometimes
we have to coax our inner Ferdinand to stand up and move. This woman of wonders is taking the bull by
the horns and marching forward, and in the process, adding color to the world
surrounding her.
