By Alexa Lewis
Sunday morning started out gray and rainy but didn’t stay dreary for long. 7,000 jubilant runners ran through the parking lot at Freeman Coliseum covered head to toe in vibrant, neon colors.
The Color Me Rad 5K on Dec. 2 gave people in San Antonio the opportunity to run, raise money and get bombarded with colorful liquid and powder made of cornstarch and water. Runners showed up wearing mostly-white clothing, and by the time they crossed the finish line, they were covered in a mess of different colors.
Originating in Utah, the Color Me Rad team travels to different cities in the U.S. bringing the fun and color with them. The race cost $45 per runner and the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of San Antonio.
According to the Ronald McDonald House website, “The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home where families can stay while their children are being treated at San Antonio’s various medical centers.”
Runners of all ages gathered together for the race and volunteers stood around ready to cover them with color. According to the Color Me Rad website, the non-toxic spray consisted of cornstarch and water.
“Color Me Rad started with three friends that finally figured out what running was missing: fun. And color bombs,” said spokesperson Gretchen Willard.
The Color Me Rad team started the run in April 2012 and this is the first time the event has come to San Antonio.
“Color Me Rad was inspired by the Holi Festival of India, a celebration of colors,” Willard said. Color Me Rad celebrates running for fun.”
The volunteers at the race did their part to ensure that the runners were as messy as possible. The volunteers wore yellow T-shirts with the words “color bomb squad” on them. Some volunteers sprayed liquid on the runners, while others threw powder.
Vance was talked into volunteering for the race by her roommate, who signed her up.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Vance said. “You just aim for the torso down.”.
At the end of the race, many runners gathered to take pictures with friends and family, examining the explosion of color covering their clothing and hair. The celebration continued with dancing and cheering to lively music provided by a DJ.
“I feel dirty but I had fun,” runner Lexis Thayne said. “I think I got powder up my nose.”
