Running with a splash of color

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  I am an avid runner and have participated in several runs such as half and full marathons, several 5 km races and even an 18 km march, so when my coworkers mentioned the happiest 5 km fun run on the planet, without question I was sold.

The Color Run is a noncompetitive 5 km run in which all runners are covered with different colored powders at each kilometer mark. This particular race has been fairly popular throughout the U.S. within the last year, so I was excited to find out Italy was holding one of the runs in Marina di Pietrasanta for the first time.

A few coworkers and I decided to make a weekend trip out of the first of three available runs. Twelve of us set out to drive four hours southwest to the Marina in the Toscana region. During the short drive, we stopped midway for gas, pre-race snacks and to stretch our legs. After we arrived at our beachside hotel, the staff met us with refreshments and snacks.

With a few hours to spare before the run, we explored the marina for a light lunch. We paid between 10-15 euro for lunch and after satisfying our appetites we headed back to the hotel. Since the hotel was booked a few minutes away from the run, the hotel clerk gave us easy directions to the location. To our surprise the directions said we were 15 minutes away. As we began to make our way to the run, all dressed in white, it became clear the race was not 15 minutes away. We walked about 30 more minutes before a few people from our group took the only taxi cab available to the start of the run. The rest of us ran 30 more minutes to the event.

Yes, we ran a 5 km before the actual 5 km, but I didn't even think about being tired because when I arrived to the event we were welcomed with loud music, smiles and a large crowd all dressed in white, ready to be doused with color from head to toe.

As we were taking group photos and preparing our cameras they finally called all participants to the start line. People dressed in white, wearing colorful sunglasses and wigs were jumping up and down to the music as packets of colored powder were tossed into the crowd. I managed to get a hold of a packet with my favorite color, purple, and as I opened it my face was splashed with orange powder. I wiped my face laughing at my friends who were also covered in orange, blue, and red.

The run finally kicked off and we were on our way to be splashed with more bright colors. While I run to the first kilometer mark all I see is a rainbow of people laughing, talking and jogging. At the 1 km mark, volunteers doused us with bright pink creating an army of pink panther look-alikes. This continued at every mark, orange for second, yellow for third, purple for fourth and finally finishing the run with volunteers handing us more packets of color and refreshments.

We started off looking like a blank canvas ready to be filled with color but at the end of the run I ended not only with color on my canvas but plenty of memories to be shared. The Color Run is for everyone whether you have never run 5 km before or you are a marathoner runner, I guarantee you will smile at least once throughout the event.

Luckily there are still two more runs you can sign up for and they are only a few hours away. Milano Marittima and Milan, both three hours away will host the race Aug. 13 and Sept. 7.