A dozen charity-runs in Connecticut support honorable women’s organizations for this 2013 Mother’s Day Weekend, but all of those races are held on a paved course.  Why not give your tired legs a break from such pounding and run or walk-run on a beautiful cross-country course instead?  I know that runners like my own woods-avoiding mom are thinking, “hmm…cross-country course: roots, boulders, streams and lots of slippery debris that will trip me” but that does not describe the terrain for the two loop Hartford Marathon Foundation’s True Colors 5K.  The route includes a smattering of pavement, a smooth dirt trail and lots of open fields that provide room for plenty of volunteers and spectators. The Second Annual True Colors 5K Walk-Run for Fun will be held in Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut, the site of the famous Wickham Cross-Country Invitational Meet.  You will run in the footsteps of world class athletes, including many Olympians who have completed this 3.1 mile course in fifteen minutes or less! I’m sure that I will meet many employees of the event’s prominent local corporate sponsors, Aetna Insurance and Pratt and Whitney Aircraft while volunteering at the event. There is always a volunteer job available for others who did not sign up for the race at their workplace.  Because this is only the second year for the event, many dedicated volunteers have already committed to other widely advertised, longer-running races. True Colors has been helping families of all gender and sexual identities for the past twenty years.  Parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender children have been impressed by the support and education programs available through True Colors. When I asked my friend, education reform expert, and CABE executive director, Bob Rader, about this group, he said, “As the proud father of a transgender child, True Colors has been an important support and learning mechanism for us. I know that my son has gone to several of their conferences and comes back glowing about the work they do. True Colors is one of the very best LGBT groups in our country!”  For more information about this anti-bullying, anti-racist organization please visit www.ourtruecolors.org. This will be my second year volunteering at the event, and if I am feeling up to it, my first time running it. If you are interested in running or volunteering at this or other great charity runs, please visit www.hartfordmarathon.org. Look for me on Mother’s Day with my mini-cheerleader, Annie in Wickham Park. Save your legs from hard pavement, and save the life of a child or teen by helping the amazing True Colors Foundation!