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MyFitnessPal Community

Ever Done a Color Run?

JoanB5

We've been invited to a Color Run in honor of those with disabilities and special needs. It looks like a blast, and is for a great cause. Just wondering what kind of like clothes and shoes you wear and if the stain comes out. Any tips? Thanks!

Replies

MaddieCakes06

I participated in the Portland Color Run back in September and it was fun! I wasn't able to run the entire thing but I ran longer than I thought I could because everyone around me was motivating me to push myself.

I kept my valuables in a plastic ziplock back that I held in my hand. I only kept some money, my license, and my phone to take pictures, the rest I left in the car.

I highly recommend bringing/buying a handkerchief to wear around your neck and put above your mouth at the color stations, the powder is not fun to inhale. I also wore sunglasses to keep it out of my eyes but many people wore goggles.

Wear shoes/clothes you don't care about because the color doesn't always come out.

Have fun!

shaydon80

This is valuable info! I'm doing the Montreal color run in August

sallyah13

I just signed up for my first one that will be this summer, I am excited and have no idea what to expect!

elgray26

No but I am doing my first in April. So I would like some advice too!
Sunglasses sounds like a good idea. On the website it says that the color is hard to get out.
It also says to keep the color in your race shirt to spray with vinegar and iron.

DesignGrrl

I did the Color Vibe Run in Savannah in late December, and it was a blast! They used colored corn starch, and it washed out just fine. They issued us t-shirts and sunglasses, and I wore a pair of black workout pants and my old sneakers (just in case). Because my hair is light blonde, my stylist recommended I wear a bandana over my hair and tuck my ponytail in, but I did get some in my hair, and it washed out fine, too.

I did my best to hold my breath as I jogged through the color stations. Aside from 2 days of technicolor boogers, I was totally fine!

Oh, and bring towels to sit on in your car for the ride home!

Have fun!!

Celticsnowflake

Thanks for the info!! Participating in one of these in July and these are great tips!

UsedToBeHusky

Planning to next month! I'm so excited!

swaymyway

I really want to but I don't think they've 'taken off' yet in the UK - as soon as there is one near me though I am so there

rydn4h2o

Thanks for the info! There's one in Des Moines this fall that I was looking at, looks like fun!

sandrahover

I have done it twice! It is a blast! Wear white. The colors show up better. It is just colored cornstarch, so it comes off easily unless it gets wet. Good advice on the try to keep your mouth shut and not breathe in at the color stations. lol.
Best advice I can give you (that I learned the hard way) if you want to carry your phone or camera....put it in a zip lock bag in your pocket. Otherwise it gets covered, inside & out. Have fun!

JustJennie1

Doing my first one in April.

I'm going to wear old running shoes. I heard the color comes out of the clothes pretty easy but I'm still going to find a not-so-nice t-shirt to wear. Don't forget to wear sunglasses or goggles too.

shunhuggedme

I did one in Orlando recently

Fair warning, it is a CHALLENGE to RUN it. There was SO MANY PEOPLE.

I ended up with a time of 44 minutes - and you have to time yourself, nor race chips - due to having to go around people. It bottlenecks in color areas. It's a fun-race, after all

I put a bandana around my neck and pulled it over my nose during color stations to avoid breathing it in. I wore sunglasses to keep it out of my eyes.

I wore white pants, white tank top, and a white tutu. I TRIED to make the color stick, and it didn't

I vinegar'd my stuff, ironed it in, vinegar'd it again, then threw it in the dryer... but I washed it once time and it came sparkly clean. I was sad.

Wherever you get wet (sweat, water thrown on you, whatever) the color will start to 'set'. My friend has really really fair skin and it stained her a bit, but it came off after a few days. I have dark skin and dark hair and it didn't stick to me at all.

I have pics and more info at my blog, http://gravitybedamned.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-color-run.html if you want to take a look!

Wickedbookworm1977

Wear clothes you don't care about...and wear WHITE! It's all about getting colored!!!

Wickedbookworm1977

And have signed up to do it this fall.

kjoy_

i signed up for the july columbus, oh one! it's colored corn starch that comes out of clothes in the wash, i'd be careful what tennis shoes you wear though if you don't want to put those through the wash. should be a blast!

dorianaldyn

In theory it seems like a color run could be fun - and obviously there are already lots of responders that have had a great time - but for me? I don't think so. Having a bunch of powder thrown at me while I'm trying to run sounds so unappealing! Maybe it's because I grew up with lung issues, but I think I'll stick to spectating for color runs.

Lisapayne76

I just signed up for my first one. They look like so much fun

allsmiles92

A friend and I are going to the one in Columbus this July. It'll be my first. I can't wait! Thanks for all of the great tips!!

Alyssa__Lauren

Doing one in July. Thanks for the tips!

mdcoug

I'm doing it with my girls (7 & 9) and my husband this spring, so I don't think we'll do much running. Thanks all for the tips, we're very excited!

amberlykay1014

I have been invited to go to one with a friend, but really I just don't get it and I'm not going. I don't know what's so appealing about having people throw colored corn starch at you while you run? Maybe I'm missing something, but I wouldn't pay $40 to potentially have my clothes ruined. I also heard it's not even timed and that it's pretty chaotic with people starting at different times and you have to stop and wait in line to run through the color station. I guess it's just for "fun" but I really don't get it.

mrsburghart

Definitely do the bandana around your mouth. I had blue spit for awhile afterward. If you have a large white poodle, make sure to take them, too. Multi-color dogs are awesome

. I had a blast at mine! Just make sure that you have towels in your car to sit on. You don't want to forget and have pink on your butt at work the next day! I'm fair skinned with blonde hair and everything washed out just fine. I was actually disappointed that my shirt didn't stain

.

Also, don't be surprised if you see people rolling around in the color. They are not having a seizure or a heart-attack, but just trying to get as messy as possible.

Enjoy your run! It was a great experience for me. It was so nice to see a race where time didn't matter and everyone was out just for the heck of it. Some people pushed baby strollers, some pushed others in wheelchairs. It was very motivating and inspirational !!

Wickedbookworm1977

Bump - trying to get all of my topics to 500....

kar1ey

It was my first 5k and it was really fun and I do not regret it! It's a happy, care-free zone and everyone is just trying to get to the finish line. There were many people walking and a lot of people with young children.

Some tips:

My undergarments somehow got exposed to color during the run. This stuff washed out after many, many cycles, but still. Don't wear things in that department that you care about because they will get messy! Especially when you sweat. The color bleeds around and it looks gross.

Don't wear sneakers that you care about either! I have a pair of Walmart-bought sneakers so I didn't care if they got messy. 8 months later after regular indoor/outdoor use and the color is still on them. I don't care but I can see why someone who wore their $100+ Nikes would be angry.

Bring a change of clothes for the ride home, even if it's like a bathrobe or something easy to slip on. Bring some baby wipes or extra water and towels to wash up afterwards. You get way messy and if you don't want to get your/someone else's car to get dirty you got to prepare for it!

The day that I went was really hot and they didn't have enough water and it tasted like dirty hose water anyway. There weren't enough busses that transported us from the sports park (where the finishing line/after party was hosted) to the parking lot so we waited 2 hours for a ride. A lot of people were sunburned, sweaty, and angry. I was told that this was the sports park's fault and not The Color Run's. I believe that because The Color Run is so successful and if every event was like the one I experienced they wouldn't have any business!! I'm the kind of person that can laugh things off so I wasn't too angry, just slightly annoyed.

That being said-- be prepared for anything. Bring a small bag/backpack/fanny pack. Bring a small thing of sunscreen, a snack, and some water just incase something unpredictable happens-- especially if you have to rely on busses to get you back to your car!! Don't plan anything else for the rest of the day incase you get caught up in traffic on the way home or, god forbid, get stranded like we were. I heard a lot of people complaining that they were going to be late to work.

Overall, it was fun. My crazy self would do it again!

JoanB5

...Aside from 2 days of technicolor boogers, I was totally fine!...

Oh, and bring towels to sit on in your car for the ride home!

Have fun!!

LOL. That is hysterical.

To answer one person, it is to celebrate those who have disabilities. We are joining a Team who has a son at our church who is a delight to all of us, but he has special challenges. It is not so much about us as runners as about awareness for, and raising money for them. We are buying TEAM t-shirts, and it should be a fun family day, whether or not you are in it for the novelty, to be fit, or to show support.

JoanB5

Definitely do the bandana around your mouth. I had blue spit for awhile afterward. If you have a large white poodle, make sure to take them, too. Multi-color dogs are awesome . I had a blast at mine! Just make sure that you have towels in your car to sit on. You don't want to forget and have pink on your butt at work the next day! I'm fair skinned with blonde hair and everything washed out just fine. I was actually disappointed that my shirt didn't stain .

Also, don't be surprised if you see people rolling around in the color. They are not having a seizure or a heart-attack, but just trying to get as messy as possible.

Enjoy your run! It was a great experience for me. It was so nice to see a race where time didn't matter and everyone was out just for the heck of it. Some people pushed baby strollers, some pushed others in wheelchairs. It was very motivating and inspirational !!

LOL I'm glad you told me...I'd be worried about people rolling around! Thanks for posting!

JoanB5

Well, two days away! And it looks like a "wintry mix" is in the forecast for it. Starting temp is about 35, ending, about 45. I'm nervous about the weather...sounds like it will be horrid for a run/walk. I've had laryngitis off an on all week already. We'll see if we pull this off or not!