Color Me Impressed

Color Me for Hope 2013

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Nearly two years ago I started to run again.  It was the first time in 20 years I had done anything competitive (I ran cross country and track in high school).  All the races I've done so far have been 5Ks, including the Warrior Dash, the Snowman Shuffle, and the Jingle Bell Run.  On Labor Day, I added a new race to my repertoire: a color run, not to be confused with The Color Run, which is a trademarked event.  You can learn more about The Color Run, by clicking this link.

The particular event I ran in was called the Color Me For Hope 5K.  It's a fundraiser for the Hands of Hope Clinic in Marion, Illinois.  The clinic provides health care coverage to people who are working, but do not have insurance.  This is the first time the group has held an event like this, and to say it was successful would be an understatement, as more than 600 people participated.

The race is a typical 5K run (or walk), but staggered throughout the course are people with colored powder.  As you run by them, they squeeze that powered out of a plastic ketchup bottle (sans the ketchup of course).  For this particular race, they used corn starch mixed with food coloring.  After you work up a sweat, that powder clings to you pretty well, and you're given a white tshirt, so the colors really pop.  As I mentioned on the news prior to the race, you'll look like a unicorn riding a rainbow by the time it's over.  An odd thing to say, but I was challenged to work the word unicorn into my live shot, so that's what I came up with on a whim.

Before & After selfie 

The race was a success for the clinic, and I'd like to say I was successful too.  I'm pretty certain I finished in the top 10, top 15 for sure.  This was not a timed race and a lot of people were there to have fun.  I was too, but I am also kicking up my training as I aim for 500 miles by the end of the year.  I've also recently decided I want to run a half marathon in the next six months, so I wanted to hit the ground running, and running fast.

As I sit here writing this blog, my hands and arms are still stained with the bright pink dye.  The yellow, blue, orange, and green all washed off in the shower, but I suspect this pink is going to be here for a few days.  None the less, I had a great time time running this race.  It wasn't too hot and it was all for a good cause.  The pink will be a nice reminder of a great morning for the next few days.  I'm already looking forward to the next 5K out there.