Welcome! I’m Caroline
follow me
Subscribe By Email
Search The Little Things Blog
Follow Me On Bloglovin’
Categories
Archives
I was given a free bib in exchange for talking about this race. No other forms of compensation were offered, and all reviews and thoughts are my own.Ā
Saturday morning I had the chance to again run the Color Me Rad 5k. As you might remember if you were reading my blog at this time last year, I ran the race last September, and I had a really excellent time. I went to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Friday night to pick up my packet, which included my race bib, a temporary tattoo (which I didn’t use because last year it took a few days for it to completely come off), a t-shirt (I really like it, and I wore my one from last year quite a bit, so I’m assuming the same will be true this year), and a pair of sun glasses. Packet pick up was easy, and I didn’t have to pay anything to park.
On Saturday morning I was a bit nervous, as the forecast called for rain. While running a 5k in rain isn’t so bad, running a 5k race where powder is being thrown with the intent of trying to get as colorful as possible is less than ideal. Luckily I only encountered sprinkles throughout (but the people who scheduled a later wave time had to deal with pouring rain- bummer!), and the color stayed just fine. I signed up for the 9:20 wave, and parked at about 8:50 at a parking lot across the street (parking was $5 there), and took the shuttle to the starting line. Quick and easy.
The starting line people this year and last have been full of energy, and they get the crowd pretty pumped up and ready to go! They specifically give instructions for walkers to stay to the right, and runners to the left, but in both races walkers have been to the left. Apparently they don’t realize what a hassle it is for people who want to run to weave through all the strollers, etc. I love that this race is for everyone- I just wish that people would follow race instructions!
The color stations were lots of fun, and they didn’t skimp on color at all! Last year I left some of the color stations without much color on me, but this year I definitely did not!
I got a call from Melissa who was out on her long run, and had tried to time it so that she would run the part of the trail that hit the fairgrounds while I was there. She luckily got to a place on the route just before I got there, and she ran the last 2 miles of the race with me (she didn’t go through any of the color stations or cross the finish line), and it was really nice for me to have someone there with me!
except for a few blue drops of color, she stayed pretty clean!
They provide water bottles at about the 2 mile mark, and especially with the heat and humidity it was nice. The humidity was disgusting, and the temperature wasn’t so ideal. Sweat was dripping down my face (I had run 2 miles before the race, and followed it up with another one, for 6 total miles, done in cotton shirt and shorts. disgusting.), and my clothes were just not breathing. The water felt fantastic.
Right before the finish line they handed out a free packet of color to toss around too. I grabbed pink because… obviously, why wouldn’t I? š I finished, Melissa and I took a few pictures, and then she headed off for her last few miles (girl rocked 17 miles this weekend!!), and I ran a final mile to end back at my car to end the day with a 6 mile training run!
Before and After!
I brought a towel to sit on in the car and an extra plastic bag to throw in shoes, socks, compression sleeves, spi belt, and shirt for the car ride home.
This race was organized so well, and I loved the energy and excitement. Like I said last year, the race is well worth it, and you’ll have a blast if you sign up for it! You can visit their website here.
Now it’s your turn to share! What’s the most fun race you’ve ever run?Ā
I can’t believe I’m leaving this on a public site… but you were right! This experience was way more fun than our last color run-style experience, and I didn’t even actually race! I’ll definitely be joining you for this one (for real!) in the future. Thanks for letting me hop in š It helped those miles go by!