Become Part Of A Living Kaleidoscope On The Color Run's 2014 Tour!

Momma Told Me: Live life in full color.

I love color. I can think of few things that can make me quite literally giddy as fast as something splashed with beautiful, vivid, bright colors. Whether it's cupcake frosting, a fluffy new comforter, a pair of neon short shorts, or a rainbow stacked desk organizer- it's hard not to smile when you're surrounded with such unexpected pops of pure color. So, naturally, I wanted no, needed, to be a part of the 'fun run' revolution of 'color running' that has swept the population worldwide. The practice of non-competitive 5k treks which douse the participants in colored corn starch and culminate in a color orgy (don't worry, the intermingling of colors and people is entirely family friendly), has become THE thing for the non athletic aspiring such as myself. Of course, seasoned runners participate too, in fact, even infants in strollers sport temporary tattoos and tutus as they parade through the event!

But let's be real- there are a LOT of these types of events springing up. It seems every week I see one of my friends of family has shared a flyer for an upcoming neon night run, color walk, dance-a-thon, or Spartan race. The world of fun runs is big, my friends; and even within the color-racing genre, you have many choices. My answer? Do them all if you can- however, if you cannot, there is one race I have whole-heatedly endorsed without any sponsorship, across several blog posts in the past. As someone who has many local friends who have attended as many as 4 different color race events, I know that The Color Run is the only place for 100% professional and color jam-packed fun. Don't be fooled by imitators my friends, go to an official The Color Run event, they're the originals, and each year they find a way to keep making it better.

New for 2014, The Color Run's one year only Kaleidoscope Tour there will be more color than ever before with a 'living kaleidoscope' participants can actually walk through (I am dying to see this!) and more event stations throughout the race route. Every registered runner will also be able to score an awesome swag bag of merchandise including a Color Block Headband, Temporary Tattoos, T-Shirt, and brand new Shoulder Bag! I am very excited about the new swag for all registered runners, as the shoulder bag design is absolutely gorgeous- I only wish that The Color Run would add an extra charge for each runner to elect to buy an additional color packet. Last year we decided to begin dousing before the event began, and would have loved to have an additional packet for the after-party too.

You see all of the photos in your friend's Facebook feed and wonder what The Color Run is really about, right? Maybe you're on the fence, or you've heard about some 'muddy' color experiences. In my opinion, this event is as colorful as you make it. Find a 2014 Kaleidoscope Tour date in a city near you, register on the VIP list (and pay as low as $25 per person!), and begin planning your big day. Go crazy plan hair styles, makeup, outfits, face paint- it's all about you, whether you're running solo or in a giant team of friends and family. You will see everything at The Color Run, so don't feel afraid to let your creative side flow! Do keep in mind any clothing or accessories may be tinted of stained by the food-grade-safe dye infused with the corn starch color- and sweating or water may make colors bleed or become mucky (it happens.) Whether you come out looking like a promo-photo, or a muddy mess, the event is a blast, and the fun is only limited by your mentality!

The Color Run is coming to my local city October 18, 2014- and I am crazy anxious. You will undoubtedly hear about my outfit planning and torturous countdown over the next 6 months! But a The Color Run event could be coming to your town as soon as within the next few weeks, so be sure to check the current event listings to check for the next local race and register with code COLOR5OFF to save $5 on your event registration. If you don't see your local big city listed yet, get on the email VIP list to be notified as soon as the dates are announced. I'll see you all on the colored pavement!

What Daughter Says: Stay colorful, my friends.

So You Want To Do A Fun Run: After @TheColorRun Race

**** This post is not sponsored. Our team, The Color Jungle, paid for admission to the following event. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: Sometimes life get's messy, and that's what truly makes it beautiful.

So you've conquered your first fun run, The Color Run, and come out looking like you survived an explosion in a Gummy Bear factory. You round the corner, and your heart drops as you realize there are no more color stations to run through, just one final arch, the Finish Line.

As acurate as you may want your chronicling of the occasion to be, I suggest you hold your triumphant photos for the other side. 'Finish Line' with be written on either side of that colorful arch, and the remaining participants will appreciate you taking your goofy photos in the holding bay on the other side; rather than in the middle of an active race. And, while you have those gorgeous, 'official' participant bibs on, you will have no way of ever knowing what place you actually finished- after all, it's not a 'race,' it's an experience.

As you cough up those last specks of colored corn starch, and reach for the tissues stashed in your teammates backpack (expect plenty of colorful surprises there), a sort of high washes over you. I expected to be more proud that I had participated in a 5k (my second in a month, the first being a charity walk); I was more excited about soaking in the surroundings. The atmosphere was electric, our event filling an entire fairgrounds- a stage just behind us blasting energetic music, a DJ screaming notes of encouragement. Take time to stop here and snap plenty of photos of you and your team. Take silly photos, carry one-another, flash peace signs, whatever you do- it's all smiles. If there's ever a time in life when you can simply go wild and act like a kid again, it's standing there on that color drenched pavement, a human canvas.

Before I'd participated in my first Color Run I was very unsure of how things would play out. As part of the newbies in our start section, we bespeckled each other with our colored corn starch packets long before the race even started. Somewhere along the line we'd heard an announcer tell us those packets were for the 'after party'- I still stand by my belief it was more fun to 'pre-color' our team at the Start Line. And I still wish that I'd had the opportunity to buy an additional packet or two when registering.

In any case, once you've crossed the finish line, and taken your photos, there is a mosh pit before a giant stage, considered the 'after party'. Little kids will be sitting on parents heads, and the entire crowd will be pulsing up and down to the beat of the electric music. At various intervals a countdown will be heard, and that's when you should grab your camera- the entire crowd will throw up their color and a beautiful scene of color clouds will erupt over the rainbow participants. Once you've snapped your pics make your way into the heart of the crowd and prepare for the next countdown; after all, you should experience this from inside the group too, right?

By the time you tote yourself back to the car you'll be staring at the towels you responsibly brought, a little crestfallen at the notion of wiping that war paint off. I couldn't bring myself to do so just yet, so we covered the upholstery and caravan-ed  our group back to our hometown (the next town over, and away from the crowds and street blocks), where we walked into a family diner, packed on a late Saturday afternoon. We'd thought for sure we'd be kicked out on first sight, but we were welcomed as more of curiosities. Every employee had to stop by our wide faced booth and ask us about the event, and tell us how much fun it must have been. Note: Us ladies had made a beeline for the restroom to clean out hands- while the preliminary color will come off, expect your palms to be dyed dark green to black even after a good rinse.

When Jay and I got home we snapped a few more photos, for posterity's sake. I already knew I wanted to take one and make it into a photo canvas (you'll see how that came out later). The top photo is our photos in complete race gear, the bottom, with our top layer of clothing removed. I'm sharing this particular set of photos to illustrate the aftermath of the event. Note, any and all clothes below are subject to coloring, especially if you sweat. The color seeped right through my official t-shirt and even through the two layers beneath. If you're wearing headbands, goggles, glasses, wristbands, etc, expect some deviation int he form of 'clear patches'. If you'd like to preserve the color on your clothing articles, the event suggests you spray them in vinegar and iron them. And, from personal experience, if you're looking to remove the color from your skin in one wash, grab a cheap bar of 'Lava' (comes in a red package, 2 bar packs with bar soap at your local grocer) soap. This green pumice like soap is oddly soothing as you scrub the color off with no trouble at all!

What Daughter Says: There are a lot of ways in life to get messy- relive the childhood joy of finger painting with a fun run!

So You Want To Do A Fun Run: The Actual Race- @TheColorRun

**** This post is not sponsored our team, The Color Jungle, paid for admission to the following event. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: Do what makes you happy.

So you've decided to do a fun run- and not just any run The Color Run!

You may recall my overview of the dos-and-donts of The Color Run preparation in our first part of this series: Color Run Basics. The social media response was great, but those of you not connected to my personal social media accounts wanted to know where the 'after' pictures were. Slow down there, Charlie, we're just getting to the good stuff. Today I'll walk you through the color run from a participant's point of view- starting point to finish line. But the event isn't over when you cross that finish line, that's then the After Party begins, and when you get to take all of those awesome photos of color explosions and rainbow clouds in front of the main stage. That, my friends, I've saved for the very last post. But fear not- there's plenty of color in ever aspect of this unique event, so tag along and get a top secret glimpse into the 'runners' shoes.

Speaking of shoes; it seems common sense that one would wear comfortable athletic style shoes to an event where you will be walking/running a 5k (3 miles). I, personally, don't own any such shoes (I know, I know) so I chose to don my Sketcher high-tops with canvas uppers. While most modern running shoes have a mesh upper, they can be thrown in the washer and thoroughly cleaned with no fuss. Classic white tennis shoes though, may trap color in the laces and creases for weeks, or even permanently. Choose your footwear wisely, and keep in mind your socks will likely be permanently stained!

Consider parking long before you leave your home. Our particular event was planned on the exact same day as a charity biking event that kicked off 30 minutes prior in the complex next door. It was madness. Not only was the freeway gridlocked, but the 'back roads' (which we took) yielded a 40 minute wait for less than a mile stretch of road. Do leave early enough to account for this, or allow for 'walking in' from parking further away. Many of The Color Run events go down a town's 'Main' St, which can further complicate parking. However, don't worry about being late- The event has two 'start times' (9/9:30), but the paperwork lists the start from 9-9:45. Regardless, there are at least 7 group starts, and you WILL almost assuredly be in one of them so long as your bum is there by 10.

Speaking of the starts- There were 4 large, inflated, Start arches in our kick off coral, and about 4-500 people in each start group (estimate). Volunteers will hold blue 'Color Run' start ribbons to section off the groups, and walk you forward with each launch. When you get the the front there will be an event announcer to properly stretch the crowd and throw out promotional items such as fanny packs, yes fanny packs, and handkerchiefs. Our event also had a live band to kick off each start group, and plenty of media at the front of the line.

Expect to be colored before you start the race- Every entrant is issued one colored corn starch packet, that is intended to be used at the After Party toss, where participants throw their color up in air at scheduled times. As it turns out, most of us are very impatient, I'd wager at least half of the runners spent their time in line tossing clouds of colored powder at one another. If a stranger colors you in the start corral just thank them; there's no sense in getting upset over your crisp white tee getting 'messed up' you're about to walk through color clouds (literally). Besides, it's this runner's personal opinion that it's much more fun to color your team and group prior to the kick off- it makes for a mush more artistic splatter :) I do, however, wish participants could pay a couple extra bucks at registration for a second color packet, or the option to choose their color. It seems some teams had only 1-2 colors, as the volunteers at the pre-race packet pick up (a Sport's Authority in our town) didn't seem to care.

Okay, so you're ready for color- Even though I mentioned before that is is not a race; you will likely feel compelled to take off running, or at least in a sprint from the start. You really won't have much choice, it's what the crowd seems to will, so pace yourself and jog a few blocks then take team inventory. Remember, not all team members are equally athletic- Rule #2 of The Color Run (Rule #1 being 'Have Fun'), don't leave a runner behind. You will likely have to stop at various streets and intersections (for traffic and safety) anyway, so don't bother pushing yourself  in a large crowd- you'll all meet up eventually when you wait for those lights!

But how do you get 'colored'? Well, the event route map made available prior to the event for online download (which will not be handed out at the event) will show you your color zones. The color areas are supposed to be evenly set up ever 'K' with a water station in the middle. Because our Main St is so long, we had two color zone's close to the start, and 2 right by the end. I wish this had been planned more even, but what can you do? When approaching a color zone you'll see signs and a giant inflated arch matching the zone's color. There will be volunteers with giant squirt bottles and even tubs of color wearing shirts matching the zone's color. As you run, jog, or walk through, you'll be sprayed and doused in a giant cloud of colored corn starch. Remember to close your eyes and hold your breath (or wear protective eye gear and a paper mask). The color is food grade, but no one wants to inhale a big gulp of that color while walking 3 miles! Expect the floor to be covered in a half inch of color for a good 50"+.

 Here you see the least colored area of our walk, Main St, which was brilliantly protected from the mayhem by the city and planning officials. Unfortunately, for the Circle K and various antique stores along the way, there were numerous colored customers wandering in off the route for a break.  There were also the inevitable  color mishaps down the path, with explosions of color here and there. For the most part the crowd was very civilized and orderly. There was a water station at the very end of that white crowd, but this photo spot marked the official halfway, so we made a point to stop and take our group pictures. Don't feel bad about stopping to sip water, or take a photo- it's not an actual race; the color WILL wait for you. Just remember that you will be covered in color dust which might disrupt electronics.

The end point seemed to be the largest color zone, Pink; and took us back onto our County fairgrounds where plastic tarps were laid out. Racers who wished to roll in the aftermath of the Pink station were permitted, so long as it was not on the tarped area. Above you see some participants making 'starch angels' at the end of the race. Okay, technically this was around the corner from the official Finish arch, but close enough. This was the most colored strip of the route, where volunteers were literally shoveling color from buckets to toss on runners. Below the photo you see a four legged friend tinted pink from finish cuddles. Pets are not allowed to walk the event, but they are welcome at the finish line! Stay tuned to see our Finish Line shots and the after party experience!

What Daughter Says: There's nothing like a healthy walk and a good, old fashioned, color fight to put a huge smile on this girl's face!

Happiest 5k On The Planet: The Color Run Giveaway-A Race I Can Conquer

*** I will receive  one or more free admission codes in exchange for sharing my views on this event. No further compensation was provided. All images are copyright The Color Run 2013.

Momma Told Me: Live life in color.

I am not athletic. I'm not morbidly obese, but an individual can be at their target weight and still be physically unfit. I'll just fess up that this time last year I was huffing after climbing our condo stairs twice in 15 minutes. Don't get me wrong, I like walking' I'll walk for hours around the mall, or the local farm- but breaking a sprint, well, that would require an emergency. I'm the girl who participates in the 'sport' of bowling; where most league members supplement 2 hours of drinking with 15 minutes of actually throwing the ball. I've tried to be more active, but I'm simply more concerned with living a healthier lifestyle- and, for me, that meant cutting out all of the 'no-no' foods I used to consume daily. I walk on the treadmill several times a week, but I am far from the 14 minute mile I'd mastered in high school. And, if you'd have asked me a year ago if I'd ever consider participating in a 5k, I'd ask if that was in diamonds or gold; because this girl ain't running.

But it's amazing what living healthy, and having a supportive system of family and friends can do for one's confidence and vitality. I used to be that blogger who's online friends were constantly posting their training regimen and 'race' times. I'd lazily breeze past those posts, looking for something more, colorful. A good recipe, cute family pictures, the latest Pinterest FAIL attempt; anything that didn't involve hours in the blinding sun at the crack of dawn, and sweating. I just didn't see those posts as ever being 'me.' I couldn't identify with the competition, the perseverance, the determination, the neon socks, and the short shorts. That's because I didn't have confidence in myself. I was clearly lacking motivation because the voice in my head kept saying 'you're not good enough.' But who were they to talk?

Millions of people, every year, take to the streets to walk (or run) for a cause. Some are elderly, some have defeated cancer, others are pushed in a jogging stroller by a loving mom. We're conditioned, in grade school, to recoil at the 'k.' 'K' means hard work, it means sweat, it means public locker rooms and competition. The 'k's' are for the racers, those born with a passion for running; not the everyday Joe like me. But there are a few events rapidly growing in popularity that challenge the traditional notion of a 5k run. Races where nobody tracks the first to cross the finish line, runs that encourage the finish more than the time taken to get there, and colors, glorious colors. For years I've longingly followed various friends on 'mud runs,' one of the types of fun runs sweeping the less, athletic prone participants worldwide. Then I discovered The Color Run; dubbed the Happiest 5k On The Planet.

One look at a Color Run photo and you;ll instantly know what all the buzz is about. Participants, initially dressed in white, cross the 5k finish line sprayed in a rainbow of corn starch paint. Entrants age 0-99 are encouraged to run, roll, or walk through 3 miles of scenic territory on a 5k route, with 4 assigned color checkpoints along the way. The event originally began in hopes of inspiring both the athletically inclined and the athletically unmotivated to come together in a vibrant celebration of life. Participants walk for a variety of reasons; some walk to celebrate a personal health victory, some walk to honor a loved one, others walk to spend a day with family in friends. Many enter, and all leave united, in a cloud of glorious color. The Color Run is an untimed event, purely for fun, open to all ages, with a general admittance fee that covers operations costs and basic entry swag. Individuals may register solo, or teams of 4+ may be created with a discount of $5 per person. Multiple entry windows are open, with each zone (closer to the event) going up in cost; so it is important to register early! These events do and will sell out.

A portion of the proceeds from each race are donated to a charity local to the city the event is being held in, and there are over 100 events nationwide each year, including several international events. Merchandise is sold, for profit, though each runner's entry fee includes a packet of  'Color,' a race number, event t-shirt, sweat band, tattoos, and sponsor goodies. I wandered over to their website to check upcoming events on a whim, expecting to find an event in Los Angeles, and was surprised to find 9 races in California this year, including an October 19 race in the city next to our hometown, Ventura, CA. As you can see, above, the participants in attendance can range well over 19k, and costumes/accessories are encouraged. There is only one rule of The Color Run (ok, there are some basic safety rules, but it really is all about FUN); come in white, and leave plastered in color. Myself and 8 other participants (from 4-30) will be participating in the local, upcoming, event this October. Be sure to keep an eye out for our preparation posts, and the event recap.

Interested in participating in a Color Run near you? There are many  copycats, but only one official Color Run- visit The Color Run website today, to find an event near you and use discount code COLOR5OFF for a special $5 discount off each entrance purchased!

What Daughter Says: Add some extra color to your year and attend a Color Run near you.

One Momma Told Me reader will win 2 The Color Run entry passes to an open (not sold out) race, near them!