The Color Run/Walk

Effects of the Color Run

My daughter and I did a color run this weekend. She was so excited about this concept of being covered in color by the end of the run that she recruited two friends to join her.  We had a wonderful time and I believe the color definitely brought the fun to this event.

The color run was a fundraiser for an elementary school about 30 miles away from my home, but still in our county.  It was an area I was familiar with because my daughter does horseback riding camp in the area.  I was surprised by how many people recognized her from horse camp at the school.

The parents organization should be commended, they had signage up in the surrounding communities, posted the event to the Active network and leveraged several service organizations like the boy scouts and the high school leadership group to help out.  They had other community safety organizations on hand to help support and bring information to the participants.

Freshly Powdered Runners

A wildlife conservationist was there, the Fire and Rescue team from the area with a truck and a local organization did a tri tip bbq.  Breakfast was provided for the 5K participants.  There were unofficial timers to let people know how long their 5K took them.  

Our 5K took it's time, but we did the whole race.   The girls ran at least the first full mile which was
actually a nice up and down course so it certainly was not a flat loop.  The trail went through the vineyard that surrounds the school.  It was a really cool school, set in the country.

At about every 1/4 mile increment, you were splashed with a color that had been prepared in what looked like ketchup and mustard containers you'd see at a restaurant, the ones with the long tip.  There were four people stationed on the path at each 1/4 mile marker that squirted color on you.  I think it was just cornstarch dyed with food coloring.  You looked like an easter egg by the time it was done, but the powder just shook off.  

If you wanted to preserve your powder, I was told to just add a little vinegar to the washing water and it would keep some color, or they had a tie dye station that you could go to for a little more money and tie dye your shirt.   We did that.

It was an awesome day!  We arrived when they opened their gates and they basically had to start tearing down in front of us for the girls to want to go home.  

All of this happened EARLY in the morning. I was a bit worried for the organization that this was a Sunday, that maybe they wouldn't have such a great turnout.  But they did!  The race started at 8:30 and was over by 9:30, their was a little kid race at 10:00 and they served the tri-tip at 11:00.  The event was over at 11:30.  For most who had church service to go to, they still had the opportunity, for those who needed to make a 11:00 or 11:30 service could have just forgone the lunch.

Most organizations would do this on a Saturday and compete with other youth organized sports.  Doing it on a Saturday bypassed that.  I could also see trying to do this on a Friday evening when it starts to get cool or on a Saturday evening if you have a location with lighting.  But it was perfect. I felt like I had a lot of time still left in my day after it.  I would definitely want to do another one of these events.

Progress report: Plateaued again, still 13 lbs to go.