It was record-breaking. It was expectation-breaking. It was more awesome in more ways for more people. It was the C2V5 and it made awesome happen. It was fun. It was fitness. The C2V is taking off. According to Lesli Venti, it becoming a Salem institution.

141: that is how many wonderful Salemites signed up and participated in our Courthouse 2 Venti’s event.

$1,410: that is how much money was raised for the Friends of 2 Bridges (F2B).

200: that is the goal for the next C2V. 200 people having fun being silly and ridiculous and sweaty and tired and happy. We can do it. It is going to happen. (No, we have not decided on a date for the next C2V, but we hopefully will soon. And when we do, you’ll know and you’ll be able to sign up you and all of your friends.)

I have been trying to figure out the reason for the recent growth of this event. And the word that comes to mind is always freedom. The C2V celebrates

freedom. C2V’ers are free to do something on a weekday night they might not otherwise do. They are free to run through Salem, across the bridge, around parks and down sidewalks in costumes, high-fiving and jumping and lifting kegs and laughing and hollering and enjoying life through movement. They are free to go on from the C2V to other events with more confidence and a better understanding of what fitness is all about. Adults are free to be kids for a night every month in the sweet Salem summer.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the fifth-ever C2V. Thank you for bringing your friends and your family and your kids and your husbands and wives. Thank you to Venti’s and Gallagher’s and the F2B. Thank you to everyone who helped make the C2V happen.

Here is the new mantra: 200 C2V’ers for $2,000. Say it with me: 200 C2V’ers for $2,000. 200 for $2,000. Let’s not think about making it happen. Let’s not wish it would happen. Let’s make it happen.