Lovin’ the color vibe & cardio

Color runs are fun! I’m a big fan of the crazy concept. I’ve done two 5K’s now and am in search of the next.

For beginners or people who don’t think they’d like the competitive race environment, they’re perfect. Color runs are a low stress, non-intimidating and totally rad 5K race environment — sans competitiveness, race timing, and any stress. Quite simply, they’re about happy, fun and color!

What is a color run?

Up until a few years ago, I have never heard of such a thing. And then a friend introduced me to the concept and I fell in love. According to one website, color runs were started loosely based on the Hindu Festival of Colors, otherwise known as Holi, as a sign of winter’s end and spring’s new beginnings.

The first color 5K race was started by The Color Run to promote healthiness and happiness by bringing the community together to participate in the “Happiest 5k on the Planet”. In essence, color runs are a 5K run/walk where you get together with thousands in your community for some cardio and color. You start out in a white t-shirt and clean, and you dance and chant and jive with your fellow runners/walkers and get blasted with colorful powder paint before, during and after the run. It’s totally crazy and fun. (And for the most part, yes, it washes off and out.)

Color Runs – Cardio + Fun

Color run/walks offer a chance to get in some doable cardio (walking, running or run/walking a 5k) and they’re a great way to kick off your day in a totally fun, groovin and COLORFUL way! I know of the three, but I bet there are more. The Color Run (in the Twin Cities, July 12). Color me Rad (I did this one in Madison, WI, a couple years ago and it was a blast; Maine has a race Aug. 8) and now, the Color Vibe.

Last Saturday, a friend and I did the Twin Cities Color Vibe 5K in Maplewood in the pouring rain. The race always benefits a charity and this one was for the American Brain Tumor Association. We woke up early to be at the race site before 6:30 a.m. and we were shakin and grovin by 7:30 a.m. — in the pouring rain with well over 500 others.

If you’ve never done a color race, I suggest checking out when/where one will be in your community. They are a blast and we were done and clean by 9:30 a.m.! We did this one walking around Maplewood Mall (nothing special) and in the pouring rain and still enjoyed it. It’s a chance to get a group of family, friends and reconnect in a fun, totally rad way.

What fun races are you doing this summer?

Cheers!

XXOO

Lori

 Here’s a gallery from the Color Vibe in the Twin Cities last week.