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FeedDash of Color
Imagine running a 5K. Now imagine dozens of Jackson Pollock wannabes hurling brightly colored paint at you.
PHOTOS COURTESY COLOR RUN
No, it’s not a Skittles commercial; it’s a new charity run/walk making its Columbus debut this month.
It’s called the Color Run, and believe it or not, that’s pretty much how it works: Participants show up wearing white clothes and make a mad dash through a gauntlet of projectile color, all for a good cause.
Spokeswoman Jess Nelson says everyone is welcome. “A lot of 5Ks are for pretty serious runners. Our target market is literally everybody.”
The first Color Run took place earlier this year in Arizona, and organizers say word has spread quickly. “We were scheduled to do 15 [events],” Nelson says. “Now we’re doing 40. It’s really exploded.”
Here’s the rundown. Volunteers and staff on the sidelines hurl a special corn starch-based paint at runners along the route. By the finish line, you look like you’ve been sneezed on by a brigade of Care Bears.
Since the Color Run is new to the 5K scene, some cities have capped the number of participants. The Columbus event on July 21 has sold out with almost 12,000 runners, though Nelson said they’re still looking for volunteers, who may be tasked with throwing paint at runners.
The race begins at McFerson Commons, winding through Victorian Village before finishing at North Bank Park. Organizers have partnered with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, which will receive a portion of proceeds. For info, visit thecolorrun.com.
