The Color Run is a 5K fun run that takes place in various cities across the US (and maybe elsewhere?) and raises money for a specific charity. My daughter signed up to run in the race in St. Louis on August 18th and she persuaded me to go along as a spectator. Each entrant pays an entry fee of about $40 to cover the expense of the race and provide money for the charity. The charity is different for different races -- this one was for "Autism Speaks".
The event resembles the Hindu Holi springtime festival where the participants are showered with different colored powder to such an extent that they are mostly painted head to toe by the end of the celebration. The Color Run is a little less colorful but it makes up for it by the exuberance of the runners as they run from one color station to the other. I was a spectator but still managed to get slightly colored just by standing nearby.
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| One of several waves of runners. They would only release a couple thousand runners at a time. |
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| Lots of costumes |
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| First color station was pink |
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| Approaching the last color station |
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| After 3 miles they were still going strong |
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Can't have too much yellow
on your tutu |
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Everyone was in a good mood
and having a great time |
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| Approaching the finish line. |
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| Getting ready for the after-run party |
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Runners had their own color
packet to throw at the end |
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| Jill at the end |
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At least she didn't roll in the colors
like some runners did. |
We stayed at the Drury Inn by Union Station, which is a great place to stay for downtown St. Louis events. They had already experienced other Color Runs in previous years. When we got back to the hotel we were met with a cheerful hotel employee with a hose to squirt off as much color as possible and then they handed out towels. They managed to keep the hotel fairly clean.
