Color Vibe 5K

I had a really good time at the Color Vibe run but as far as a 5K goes, it sucked. They should just advertise this as a walk. First of all, the packet pickup wasn’t really at a convenient time for those who work clear across town. It only lasted until 6pm on the day before and there was no way I could make it. Second, the course was way too small for those who actually wanted to run it. It was also poorly marked so you didn’t know how far you had run or how much farther you needed to go. Third, there wasn’t any water on the course. You would think after you pay $ 40 for a race they would have some available mid-​course but the only thing they had was a very crowded station that we found at the end. Finally I thought there would be machines tossing dust in the air, not people throwing it at you. I honestly hated walking through the stations where people were throwing the color dust because people would stop in front of me and try to get as much color as possible on them. After the dust stations, I’m pretty sure my lungs were a rainbow and I could taste it on my tongue the entire run. If you actually want to run a 5K these colors runs are not for you. I probably wouldn’t do another one of these unless I just wanted to walk it with a friend.

I had such a great time at the color vibe!!! It was my first 5K, which translates into 3.125 miles. I am no runner and I did not train one bit and was totally fine. I even experienced a runner’s high, which I thought was a total lie runners tell themselves… but it’s true, it exists. As soon as I crossed the bridge and could hear the music growing louder, I knew I was about to cross the finish line and my high kicked in! BUT, to make it a true 5K, you had to do two laps… I was even skipping and running after it was all said and done. The day before the 5K we could pick up our packets at the Runner’s Shop from 2 – 6. We got a T-​shirt, sunglasses, runner’s number/​bib, and a color pack. There was quite a line, but it moved quickly. The event itself was held at the Tucson Medical Center. The weather was stunning and much appreciated, as back in Michigan on December 1^st I would have been freezing my tush off.
My only beef is that the event was not clearly marked around the medical center. We literally parked about a mile away, the furthest spot from the event… so all in all I walked wayy more than 3.125 miles… no biggie.
Foodie fleet was there serving some eats. A DJ/​announcer was pumping everyone up… Professional photographers were there to snap your before and after pics. Everytime a group would take off, runners would throw their powder in the air and it looked soooo cool! The streets were tie-​dyed and we were too! There were three color «stations» where volunteers were lined up on both sides covering you in biodegradable ROYGBIV powder (which is cornstarch). TIP: keep your trap shut, or you will be tasting the rainbow.
The event benefited Girls on the Run in Tucson. Girls on the Run® is a 501©3 positive youth development program which combines an interactive curriculum and running to inspire self-​respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-​teen girls. Their core curriculum addresses many aspects of girls’ development — their physical, emotional, mental and social well-​being. Lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.
Now, please excuse me, as I must scour the web, for a hip tutu for my next 5K!