Color Run arrives in Auckland: Healthiness, Happiness, Individuality and Giving back
The International phenomenon, a celebration of humanity and healthy living, the Color Run, the ‘happiest 5km on the planet’ took place in New Zealand for the first time. The event held on the 26th of January at the Pukekohe Race Course, saw thousands in attendance.
A crowd of almost 9,000 Color Runners - all dressed in white running gear – completed the 5km course around Pukekohe Racecourse, being showered with pink, blue, yellow and green colored powder.
At the end of the 5km course, runners enjoyed the ‘Finish Festival’ alongside kiwi singer Jamie McDell and The Color Run mascot ‘The Runicorn’, where music and a family-friendly atmosphere provided the background for the stunning mass group throws of even more colored powder. Almost 3,000kg of color was used across the day.
The Color Run - an exciting and unique 5km fun run experience with a colorful twist - has been a massive hit in cities like London, Sydney and New York and will visit Wellington and Christchurch later this summer.
Inspired by paint parties and the Holi Festival, the Color Run sees runners looking like they've been struck by a rainbow after having been doused with a different brightly colored powder.
While the 5k event is all about having fun, the focus is on promoting a healthy lifestyle and improving health and wellness. More than half the participants are first-time 5k runners. It is an event for all fitness levels, ages and backgrounds.
The rounds of laughter, and continuous excitement, surrounding the event gives a tremendous ambience. The Color Run keeping with its tag line, “The Happiest 5k on the planet”, was created after seeing the expressions of pure joy from participants.
Color Runners vary in demographics and reasons for running. With no winners or official times, The Color Run caters to everyone –first time runners to seasoned athletes. Some Color Runners participate as a celebration and capstone of their healthy living accomplishments, while others participate for reasons unique to them.
At the end of the course there is an epic, family–friendly celebration at the Finish Festival, including mass color throws, DJs, dance-offs and food stalls.
Color Runners can enter as individuals or teams of four or more and entry fees include an official white event T-shirt and sweat band, a temporary tattoo and a color powder packet for use at the Finish Festival party. For those who want to clean up before they head home after the event there is even a special ‘Cleaning Zone’. Official partners of The Color Run New Zealand, helping to make the event an experience to remember, were ZM, Resene, Telecom, New Balance and Hydr8.
The New Zealand chapter finds Luke Hannan, the National Manager and Josie Tapper for the success of the first chapter of The Color Run.
Dates and locations for the Color Run events are as follows:
Christchurch, Canterbury Agricultural Park, 23 February 2014
Wellington, Trentham Memorial Park, 30 March 2014
About The Color Run :
Founded in January, 2012 by Travis Snyder, as an event to promote healthiness and happiness by bringing the community together to participate in the “Happiest 5k on the Planet”. We are the original paint race and have created a completely new genre of running events that continues to grow exponentially. The Color Run has hosted more than 170 events in 30+ countries in 2013.
Photo Credits: Wilkie Productions.