5K race brings color to Indianapolis
Earlier this year, three friends decided that running lacked fun. In April, they added the fun by holding a color run called Color Me Rad in Utah. On Sept. 8, the Color Me Rad 5K run comes to Indianapolis. The run will take place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and will start in waves beginning at 9 a.m.
Runners start at the beginning of the 5K with clean, white T-shirts. By the time they reach the finish line, they are covered with blue, green, pink, purple and yellow. The color decorates not only the runners’ once-white shirts, but also their hair and skin. This transformation happens because during the run, participants are color-bombed with non-toxic, colored corn starch.
“Running has a reputation for being mundane,” said Director of Public Relations for Color Me Rad Gretchen Willard. “Adding color makes it fun.”
According to Willard, even though Color Me Rad is in its first year, Indianapolis will be its 16th race. Other cities that have held Color Me Rad 5K runs include Boston, Philadelphia and San Diego.
Currently, registration for the run is $40. After Sept. 5, registration rises to $45. Some of the items included with the registration are a T-shirt, sunglasses, a race bib and a color pack for the finale.
“The finale would be the best part if the whole thing wasn’t already the best part. After participants are finished with the 5K course, they receive a color packet at the finish line,” Willard said. “Every 15 minutes, there will be an ‘explosion of color,’ when everyone throws their color in the air. It’s like the fourth of July, without the fire hazard.”
Junior accounting major Kylie Blackford is one of the students from University of Indianapolis who will run in the event.
“I decided to do the run because it looked really fun,” Blackford said. “Also, I started running in January and thought it would be a good way to challenge myself, because I have never done anything like that before.”
According to Willard, Color Me Rad has runners of all different skill levels, including plenty of beginners.
“We love to introduce people to running. A lot of people do Color Me Rad as their first 5K,” Willard said. “Free from the pressure of timing chips, people can run for the fun of it.”
A portion of the proceeds from each Color Me Rad 5K run goes to a local charity. Proceeds from the Indianapolis race will be donated to Special Olympics Indiana.
People who are not interested in running but would still like to be involved can volunteer for the Color Bomb Squad.
According to Willard, members of the Color Bomb Squad stand at intervals during the race, ready to bomb passing runners with color. Each one-kilometer interval has its own color.
Anyone who wishes to register can do so at http://www.colormerad.com/races/indianapolis.html. The run is open to persons of all ages.
