I’d never wished to run a 5k.  I grew up in Nigeria, at a time when you didn’t run unless someone or something was chasing you.  To illustrate, there’s a tale about a guy, having imbibed some ‘western attitudes’ who took up jogging in his Surulere neighborhood.  Every morning he would jog to the stadium and back.  For three mornings, an area boy watched him run to and fro past his corner.  On the third day, the thug hailed the jogger.  “Hey Bros, wetin you dey run comot house go find for stadium early moring?” He wanted to be in on the deal that took the jogger to the stadium every morning.

“Nothing,” the jogger breathed, “just getting some exercise.” He exhaled endorphins sending good vibes into the world.

Intrigued, the area boy inquired, “Something dey chase you?”  The thug looked around for the menace. But the jogger shook his head.

“The area boy continued, “You dey chase something?” If there was a payload, he’d take up jogging too.

Again, the guy responded in the negative shifting from foot to foot to keep his momentum, “No. As I said, just getting a good workout, you know?”

The area boy was vexed.  “Look!” he warned sternly, “If nothing dey chase you and you no dey chase something, no run pass here again otherwise I will work out yer head!”

Thus, I believed one didn’t run without pursuit. Then, my younger daughter added “Run a 5k” to her bucket list. Being a supportive mother, I sent her links to running clubs so she could meet her goal. She declined, arguing that her friends were not in the club. Then, I encouraged her to enroll in track at school. But cross-country didn’t start till Fall.

Instead, she sent me a link to the Foam Glow 5k and suggested we run together as a family.  I tried to wriggle out. “But Mom, everyone can do it. See, even toddlers are in the run,” She flashed photos of kids tossing bubbles as they crossed the finish line. So, I uprooted myself from the couch and began to prepare.

First, I looked up 5k in miles – 3.1. I programmed it into my walking app. Each day, I increased the length of my walk to 3.5 miles. After about two weeks walking a 5k, I began to jog part of the way.  Most evenings, it was easy going but there were some evenings, I couldn’t walk talk less of run.  The air was simply too muggy.  But I persevered having caught the excitement of the race but also because the girls would tease me mercilessly if I bailed. But if the race was rained out…

Race day dawned bright and sunny squashing hopes of a rain out.  In the evening, we headed out to Werner field and joined hundreds of potential runners in pre-race partying. The music pulsed. The air was electric. All manner of people draped in glowing ornaments were being showered with foam bubbles. I couldn’t resist the energy. I forced my teenagers to take selfies with me.

At 9:00pm, the first batch of runners were dispatched.  We went with the second batch. Both daughters ran off. I settled in for fun – jogged a bit, walked a lot, and waded through foam at intervals. I smiled as I jogged past slower moving families and waved as others sprinted past me. I fit right in with my run-walk-wade combo.

The family reunited at the finish line. Like a proud mother, I insisted on one more selfie. The teenagers rolled their eyes. Since the Foam Glow, I’ve done other 5ks and registered for upcoming races. And nothing dey chase me.