As the days grew longer and the nights got warmer, students began looking for that perfect spring break event. What better way to kickstart a commitment-free week than by waking up at the ungodly hour of 7:30 to drive down to Conyers? Of course, waking up early was a drag, but the kaleidoscope of colorful fun that followed made it all worth it.
The Color Run is known as the happiest 5K on the planet. True to its name, the race was 3.1 miles of striking hues and big smiles. It’s no wonder all 20,000 runners were so happy. How else can you react to being doused from head to toe in shades of pink, blue, purple and yellow but by feeling overjoyed?
Runners begin at registration, where they pick up their complimentary T-shirts, headbands, bracelets, tote bags and a color packet of fine powder to throw at friends and perfect strangers. Next up, racers mob the start line, where the music is blaring and bubbles fill the air.
Runners pass through colored checkpoints at every kilometer, where volunteers hold full squeeze bottles and douse men, women and children alike in powder. Volunteers stand behind huge tubs of colorful paint and are so entirely coated in color themselves that their own skin and clothes cannot be seen. Each checkpoint resides in a thick cloud of smoky color that snakes up from the ground and disappears into the air. As an added bonus, the party at the finish is to dye for. All the runners, decked out in crazy glasses, funky hats and even rainbow tutus, come together for a massive concert where everyone is able to dance and laugh like old friends.
A fairly young 5K event, the Color Run was founded in January 2012, but in its first year alone, it attracted more than 600,000 runners to different races around the country. The race is all about having fun and encouraging physical fitness and exercise. According to the Color Run’s registration survey, more than half of the participants are first-time 5K runners, and the event does a good job of promoting health and wellness. Getting people active can make a difference in every community, and when you’re having as much fun as the Color Run offers, it’s easy to forget that you’re on your way to a more physically fit lifestyle.
Untraditional 5K’s have become more popular and recognized in Atlanta. Although the Color Run has become the most widely known, other colorful 5K’s, such as the Color Vibe, are new and on the rise. If you want something a little more out of your comfort zone, there are Tough Mudder races, which claim to be the hardest events on the planet. Or you can sign up for the original Color Run with a team, which gets you $5 off registration and guarantees more fun for everyone.
In partnership with Global Citizens, a charity that engages worldwide issues, the Color Run allows participants who sign up to join the Global Citizens Movement to help combat extreme poverty. It also works with local charities in the cities that host their 5K’s. In Atlanta, the people behind the Color Run work closely with Back on my Feet, which helps homeless men and women get “back on their feet” by discovering the rewards of running.
The Color Run was exhilarating, but is not the only way to get active, get involved and help your community. Be sure to check out the other colorful runs, such as Color Me Rad, Color in Motion, Run or Dye or the Color Vibe races. The next Color Run in Atlanta is this fall. Be there or be drab.
