"With my head to my right knee, I feel the vibration of my BlackBerry in my pocket. I’m surprised the damn thing still works, considering how sopping wet my entire body is. I let it go to voice mail as our group is allowed to return to a standing position. We all start walking toward the now deflated red-green-and-white balloon arch that stretches languidly across Santa Monica’s Ocean Avenue, marking the beginning of the star-crossed Fun Run.