5k participants covered in palette of colors to ‘promote healthy living’
Whether it was a last-minute effort to get in shape for spring break or something new to try, more than 1,000 students and community members participated in Columbia’s first ever “Color Run” 5k run.
Advertised as “the happiest 5k on the planet,” runners finished the course with blue, red, yellow, pink and green paint splattered all over them. For some it was a competitive venture, while others just wanted to walk with friends.
“I’ve never done a 5k before so this seemed like a good race to start with because there is no timing or mile markers,” second-year public relations student Lauren McAlexander said. “It’s less competitive and so much more enjoyable.”
The race began in Finlay Park and circled around Laurel and Richland streets. Volunteers squirted color powder at the runners at four “color stations.” At the finish, a DJ and Color Run staff handed out packets to the runners for the group “color throws” at the end.
But the best surprise came at the end.
“At one point they threw out garnet paint packets, and we had a color throw to ‘Sandstorm,’ and everyone started chanting ‘U-S-C, U-S-C’ like we do at football games,” McAlexander said.
First-time runner and third-year nursing student Kaitlin Renner said she enjoyed her experience on a team and that she would definitely do the Color Run again.
“My clinical group and I wanted to do something together, and this was a great group bonding activity,” Renner said. “It required no training, and a lot of people walked.”
The Color Run, which debuted a little more than a year ago, has no specific international philanthropy.
The run is focused on “promoting positive energy and healthy living” and allows each location to chose where its proceeds go to. Funds from the 5k went to Columbia’s chapter of Girls on the Run along with the Historic Columbia Foundation.