The Color Run
| The Color Run | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | 5K run (untimed) |
| Location(s) | International |
| Inaugurated | January 2012 Phoenix, Arizona |
| Website | thecolorrun thecolorrunlatinoamerica |
The Color Run is an event series and five kilometres paint race that takes place in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The untimed event has no winners or prizes, but runners are showered with colored powder at stations along the run.[1]
The Color Run is an event that is owned and operated by The Color Run LLC, a for-profit company.[2]
History
Founding
The Color Run draws heavily from India's Holi Festival, and was founded by Utah native and event producer Travis Snyder, in an effort to encourage professionals and novices to run together for fun.[3][4] Its first event took place in January 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, with 6,000 participants.[4][5] The inspiration to add color to the event came from day-glow events, Disney’s World of Color and color festivals throughout the world such as Holi.[6]
International growth
In 2012, The Color Run held events in over 50 North American cities, with a total of more than 600,000 participants.[3] It has therefore become the largest five-kilometer event series in the United States.[7] In 2013, events will be held in over 130 cities in the United States, South America, Europe and Australia.[4] In February 2013, IMG Worldwide announced a multi-year partnership with The Color Run, LLC, with plans to expand the event series into dozens of countries in Europe and Asia.[8] Hundreds of similar color-themed running events have since launched throughout the United States and internationally.[9] The Color Run hosted their first event in South Africa in 2013.[10]
The Color Run and IMG extended their partnership for the expansion of The Color Run™ into dozens of countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. "IMG has announced an aggressive slate of events across the globe in major markets like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Dublin, Manchester, Toronto, Vancouver and many more. IMG continues to add countries to its portfolio with a new focus on the Middle East with the addition of Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt." [11]
The Color Run held their first event in Paris, France April 13, 2014.[12] The course ran under the Eiffel Tower.
Course and participants
The untimed event emphasizes fun over competition. Open to first-time runners as well as families and children, each event has a designated walking lane.[13] Registration fees typically start at around $35 US.[14] According to The Color Run’s 2012 figures, over 60% of the participants were running a five-kilometer race for the first time,[7] and over 70% of the participants were women ages 18–40.[4] In 2013, there are expected to be a million participants.[14]
Runners begin dressed in clean white t-shirts, and pass through a color station once every kilometer. Each color station is associated with a different color, with volunteers blasting the runners with dyed cornstarch out of spray bottles.[1][15] At the finish line following the untimed run, there are typically celebrations featuring a dance party and food vendors.[13]
Kaleidoscope Tour
The Kaleidoscope Tour is The Color Run's new tour for 2014. There will be kaleidoscope attractions on the course, photo opportunities and "Kaleidoscope fun" at the finish festival.[16] The Color Run Erie, one of 98+ tour stops in the Kaleidoscope Tour, has sold out with 10,000 participants.[17]
Charity
The Color Run, LLC a for-profit organization, partners with a national or local charity at each event, such as a children’s hospital or a local food pantry.[4][18]
Global Poverty Project is The Color Run's global charity partner. According to a 2013 Huffington Post article, "Color Runners around the country will have the opportunity to not only run in the happiest race ever, but also get involved in the movement to end extreme poverty through GlobalCitizen.org, where they can learn about issues, take actions, and raise funds for non-profits."[19]
Corporate sponsorship/Partnerships
Different corporations sponsor The Color Run in different locations, for example Chevrolet in the US in 2012 and 2013,[20] and Dulux in the UK and Ireland.
Major League Baseball and the Minnesota Twins are teaming up to host the inaugural The Color Run MLB All-Star 5K presented by Nike on Sunday, July 13, 2014, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights as part of the festivities of All-Star Week.[21]
Reception
According to Running USA, non-traditional running events have increased from low six figures in 2009 to a staggering 4 million in 2013, a nearly hard-to-believe 40-fold increase. "The goal of these non-traditional running events is simple: to create a unique, doable experience beyond just running and crossing the finish line. In fact, about 60% of The Color Run entrants have never even run a 5K. Most are brand new runners of all ages with an approximate 50/50 gender split that wouldn't even dream of signing up for their typical local road race."[22]
The Color Run, along with other unique racing events, is gaining wider appeal as it helps generate new interest in running and inspires new athletes. The Color Run is among those that "represent a new theme in running: the selling of an experience beyond the accomplishment of crossing the finish line."[23]
Negative criticism of The Color Run stems from the fact they are a for-profit company,[24] and some participants are upset to learn that all proceeds aren't given to charity.[25]
See also
References
- ^ a b “Pictures We Love: Best of 2012,” National Geographic, January 3, 2013.
- ^ "FAQs". The Color Run LLC.
- ^ a b Demian Bulwa, “Color Run attracts casual athletes,” San Francisco Chronicle, March 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Chris Kaltenbach, “Color Run to draw 25,000 to Camden Yards,” Baltimore Sun, May 9, 2013.
- ^ Jill Reilly, “Warning: Colours may run! Vibrant pictures of paint-covered joggers joining in on craze sweeping America,” Daily Mail, August 2, 2012.
- ^ https://thecolorrun.com/faq/
- ^ a b Michelle Hamilton, “The Color Run Now Largest 5-K Series,” Runner’s World, February 13, 2013.
- ^ “IMG Worldwide and The Color Run Sign Multi-Year Agreement for Global Expansion,” imgworld.com, February 26, 2013.
- ^ "Who else wants a list of ALL the color runs?," Gametiime, August 26, 2013.
- ^ Scott Douglas, "Top Running News Stories of 2013," Runner's World. Accessed December 12, 2013.
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/img-worldwide-color-run-tm-194706419.html
- ^ http://www.aol.com/video/color-run-transforms-the-city-of-lights/518195790/
- ^ a b Michele Foley, “A 5K That Challenges You to Color Outside the Lines,” Health, March 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Kevin Trahan and Kevin Helliker, "Events for Weekend Warriors Become a Gold Mine," Wall Street Journal, August 9, 2013.
- ^ Alexandra Sifferlin, “The Color Run: For the Young-at-Heart Runner,” Time, August 22, 2012.
- ^ https://www.thecolorrun.com/boise/2014-08-23/
- ^ http://www.yourerie.com/news/news-article/d/story/the-color-run-is-officially-sold-out/78522/ncJXh5rt8EmC1kSy3suZXQ
- ^ Erin Levin, “A Blast of Color For Your Run,” Huffington Post, July 15, 2012.
- ^ John Connors and Lindsay Hadley, "Running to End Extreme Poverty," Huffington Post, August 15, 2013.
- ^ "Fit to be Dyed: Chevrolet Spark Suits Up for The Color Run," GM.com, August 21, 2012.
- ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/mlb-the-color-run-team-up-for-all-star-5k-charity-race?ymd=20140211&content_id=67643488&vkey=news_mlb
- ^ http://www.runningusa.org/non-traditional-running-events-special-report?returnTo=main
- ^ Danielle Kurtzleben, "Up and Running: The Rise of the Themed Road Race," U.S. News & World Report, June 20, 2013.
- ^ "About," thecolorrun.com. Accessed August 11, 2013.
- ^ Richard Chang, "Sacramento draws a colorful crowd to for-profit run," Sacramento Bee, August 4, 2013.
External links
