Running Event: The color run at Seattle 2014

Summary Note

Running event: The color run at Seattle 2014
Website: http://www.thecolorrun.com/seattle/

Date: 2014

Distant: around 5K
Package: T-shirt, medal, and a bag of junks
Cost: $50

City: Seattle, WA, USA

Highlight: Party, Friends, Crazy

Rating: 4.99/ 5 stars

---

What is color run?
The Color Run is not a serious running event. Personally, it is just for friendship and entertainment. According to the website, the objectives of color run are "Healthiness Happiness and individuality". My warning is that "do not expect to run all and be prepare for run".

(2014 Seattle) the color Run

Source: The color run

The color run is originally from the US in March 2011 (Almost 5 years ago). Due to the popularity,  it has widespread to many countries; in 2014, there were more than 50 countries with more than 300 cities organize this event. So, the runner can pick the cities to join the color run wherever you like.

I joined the Color run in Seattle. The even that I join city was in the morning. I would say that it was the ordinary event. Comparing with the other type, the night event, the color is bright in the night. All in all, the main different are time and type of color. In my opinion, the night event is quite rare. 

Before the day

Total running distance was around 5K and the entrance fee was $50. Personally, the application fee is quite cheap comparing with other 5K event such as Santa VS Superhero 5K  and the stuffs that I received. When I applied, I got a T-shirt, a bag, a headband, color packages and tattoos. Tell you the truth, the stuffs were more premium than other events that I ever join.

(2014 Seattle) The color run items

Source: The color run

During the race day

In the color run, I ran 5K which passed 5 stations; namely red, blue, yellow, orange and silver as well as mini concert at the finished line. Each station, there was many staffs splashed the color to the runners. You know what do expect to go back with your original clean t-shirt. I trews away every cloths including my running after the event.

(2104 Seattle) The color run stations

Source: The color run

Moreover, I ran with a ton of people. It was the most crowd running event that I had  ever seen in my life (Please look at the following picture!!). Imagine that, Even if I came to the start line earlier than the starting time around 30 minuets, I could not see the starting line; moreover, I tried to run with my friends but due to a lot of runners ran with us, we got lose. However, the staffs and the organizers managed the event so well; so I did not feel uncomfortable to run at all.    

(2014 Seattle) So much people

Source: My friend

(2014 Seattle) What that color is!!!

Source: My friend

After race
I got the running medal (but mine got lost), moreover, I joined the mini concert. the mini concert was fun and full of powder colors! most people participated the concert; danced together.

(2014 Seattle) finisher Medal)

Source: The color run

(2014 Seattle) I had the finisher medal too, but it lost TT

Source: My friend

Final thought!
If you want to fun just for fun; or you want to find some motivation to run. I wholeheartedly recommend to join this running event

(2014 Seattle) So much fun!
Source: My friend

Running Event: AMICA INSURANCE SEATTLE MARATHON

Summary Note

Running event: AMICA INSURANCE SEATTLE MARATHON
Website: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/

Date: November 29, 2015

Distant: 42.195K
Package: T-shirt, medal, and a bag of junks
Cost: $150+

City: Seattle, WA, USA

Highlight: Boston Qualifier, serious running

Rating: 4/ 5 stars

---

First time Marathon
After I prepared for months, I was ready. Tell you the truth, I was quite so much excite and not sure about my ability. Last year, I participated my first running event which was the Seattle marathon Santa VS Super hero 5K. That time, even if I walked more than ran, I felt so much fatigue. So, joining full marathon in one after my first running event, my sport ability seem so much advance.

(2015 Seattle) Finisher medal

The even that I selected to debut was AMICA Seattle Marathon 2015. It was the biggest marathon in Washington state. The reason why I applied this marathon because I lived there; I was a student in the university of Washington Seattle campus. I loved this city. If one day I will be a famous runner, I want to have the word "Seattle" in my biography.

Seattle was the second biggest city in the north west. Seattle was called rainy city. The temperature was stability; no difference between maximum and minimum.  There was almost 2,000 runners joined full marathon. This number was quite high comparing with other cities.

(2014 Seattle)

Application fee
Because I came from Thailand where the currency value was lower than the US, I found that the application fee was super expensive: almost $150. I was able to use the same amount of number sustain my life for a month in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. I also purchased finisher slave which was cost $40, so the total I paid was almost $200. The application fee included T-shirt (it was so much Ugly), BIB, and Bag of stuffs (most of stuffs inside were classified as junk). Sincerely, I feel bad about them. Lastly, if the runner finish the marathon in time, they get finisher medal. The medal was OK; I will show you after this. 

(2015 Seattle)

Source: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/amica-insurance-seattle-marathon/

However, after I compared the fee with major marathon event, the number was reasonable; for example, Los Angles marathon was $200.  Moreover, if the runner planed your running long enough and registered early, the price would be cheaper (they could pay only $90 if they resisted one year earlier). 

(2015 Seattle) Everything is ready!

Runners
It was 3 C- 5 C. I believed that it was classified as beautiful day for American; however, I was an Asian guy who born in the equator line, so it seem to be freeze even if I put on long sleeve shirt, trousers, and cap. Luckily, it was not rain, so the starting line was full of the runner 

Every people seem to be expert if you are new comer. This was my first marathon, I feel nervous and anxiety when I met other runners. I was panic that I might be the last one who arrived the finish-line.

Moreover, when the presenter ask the runner about their marathon experience, most of runner had ran more than one time. you know what I feel shocked what I heard that. I pretend to tell myself that "my competitor is only myself, do not focus on other".  Yes, I felt better (I am not sure) HA HA HA

Time to Start
Many people asked me how fast should we run. Sincerely, it depended on your objective. If you want to be the world champaign, you must finish your race around 2 hours, or if you want to qualify Boston marathon, you should arrive the finish-line in 3 hours (If you were me- a man whose age was 27). But if you want to finish Seattle marathon, you must finish it in 6 hours

Then, I planed to run as fast as I can during first 10 kilometer as 5.30 minuet per kilometer; after that I would slowdown to 6.30 minuet per kilometer; then I would run and walk during 20th kilometer to 30th kilometer; and I would walk in last 10 kilometer. I expected that I would finished my first marathon around 5 hours faster than cut off time (6 hours). So, at the beginning, I planned to follow pacer 3.30 hour! 

"3", "2", "1" and when all the runner heart "0", they ran!  

(2015 Seattle) 

Photo: http://isc01.gradimages.com/

The course of Seattle marathon was simple; running around the City; starting from Space needle, Chinatown, the Mercer island (The Bill gate house has been there), the lake Washington loop and back to Space needle. 

(2014 Seattle)
Photo: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/amica-insurance-seattle-marathon/

For me, the highlight was the way to Mercer island because all runners must pass "floating bridge", the bridge which was not high from lake. and the wind was strong, my hands and my ears were no felling at all.

(2015 Seattle) Running on I-90 to Mercer Island

Photo: Source: http://cdn.tegna-tv.com

After the floating bridge, we passed the lake. There were mist and high heels. they were quite awesome views but for me I was so much tried and so much cold to indulge with them

Unexpected injure: Due to wearing a new shoe that I just brought two day before the race (Black Friday), I felt hurt my feet. In my opinion, it was not because the shoe was bad; it might because I was just not familiar with it. What ever reason, finally, I could not run anymore. Pacers were coming again and agian: 3.30 hours, 4.00 hours and finally 4.30 hours. Tell you the truth, I wanna cry. I prepared for months but finally I injured.  I told myself repeatedly "Let's them go, focus on yourself".

Finish line
Last 5K was such a hell. It was very difficult even to walk due to deplete energy and injure. However, I still moved: sometime walked, in order to arrive the finish line. I tried to cheer up myself such as listened to the music and called my girl. 

Unfortunately, when I called my girl, she was playing PC game, The Sim. She asked me to by her a game whether I want to talk to her. it was around $30. YES I MUST OK :) HA HA HA. KILL THE HILL: there was a high hill before the finish line. I talked to her when I ran through it and finally I came to the finish line. I COULD DO IT

(2014 Seattle) Finisher

5.15 hour was my time. My feeling when I passed finish-line was very difficult to explain.  I felt super happy (I finished my first marathon) as well as worry (I have to start the process from zero again to attain the second marathon). In general, I was pound of myself.
My lags and feet were hurt, so after this I must stop running for a while.

(2015 Seattle) I am so proud!

Special Thank
my girl, Salinee, who cheered me up in last 5K

(2015 Seattle) Special Thank!

Running Event: Seattle Marathon's Santa v. Superheroes 5k

Summary Note

Running event: Seattle Marathon's Santa v. Superheroes 5K.   

Website: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/

Date: November 29, 2014

Distant: 5K
Package: T-shirt no medal
Cost: $50

City: Seattle, WA, USA

Highlight: Friendship, Superhero and festival

Rating: 3.5/ 5 stars
----

In 2014, more than 18 million runners finished their running events; moreover,running events in the US have been increasing for last 20 years to almost 28,000 events. As I know, every time the cities organize events such as Boston, New York and Chicago marathon, most people participate enthusiastically; joining and cheering up the runners. For me, it seem interesting to me.

So, I determined to join running events, and my first event was "Seattle Marathon's Santa V Superhero 5K"

2014 Seattle: It was begin point!!

Seattle Marathon’s Santa VS Super Hero 5K was a small running event, located in Seattle, Washington state, USA. It was not a serious running event; it seem to be more fancy than a sport (some people came to walk with their beautiful costume). The highlight of the event was that the runners were encouraged to dress like Superhero or Santa.

So it was easy to find Spider-man, Iron-man than ordinary people

(2014 Seattle) race day

Every thing seem perfect in the race day, except snow !! 

It was extraordinary. If you come to the northwest, You may not expect snow. Moreover, If you ask Seattle people, they will tell you that the snow might fall one day per year. But that day was snowing!. Tell you the truth, I almost gave up!! 

Due to high application fee, I still followed my plan, dress as MAN IN BLACK and went to the starting line. When I stayed there, I found that not so much people joined. It was good because it was not too crown like famous marathon events. Most of them were amateur runner. I saw someone came with their children in the child-car, someone bring their dogs to run. These made my happier as least I would not the last finisher (I thought)

HA HA HA HA

(2014 Seattle) Starting point

When the time came, every runner began to run!!. 

AND I FOUND THAT I RAN SLOWER THAN THEM!!!

You must not imagine that that how nice people were. If you watch boxing, two men fight each for become the winner. If you watch football, teams fight for the trophy. However, yourself is the only man, you competing with. Many people came to talk to me during the starting line, they cheering up me during “the reverse point is not far, Go Go”. I saw a guy seem to get damage to his legs after that other runners came to him and help him.

(2014 Seattle) 

After running around downtown Seattle for 45 minuets, I arrived the finish line. I arrived it almost the last person. SO, I PRETENDED THAT I DID NOT CARE

HA HA HA HA

This race made me to believe that you can run no matter who you are: Superhero: Spider-man, Iron-man, Santa, or Man in Black or you are just a ordinary people (like me); or no matter how you dress: running clothes, national costumes or business cloths, you should run!!

Suit up!! Let’s run together!!

(2014 Seattle)