If you looked around you could see white shirts, pink, green, yellow, blue, sunglasses and bandanas. If you wanted to know who was there probably groups of friends, families, couples and kids. If you were listening, you could probably hear laughter, yelling, cheering and words of excitement. If wanting to guess the feelings of the contestants, their facial expressions and nonverbal cues expressed excitement, joy, happiness and anxiety. It’s 10 a.m. and everyone is lining up at the starting line ready to run the 5k while being painted with the goal of finishing and receiving the promised paint bomb after crossing the finish line.
While some people decide to walk and enjoy getting colorful at the Color me RAD 5K, others take it as a challenge and run all the way still getting colorful as well. However, the challenge for this is that the path gets narrow and trying to keep up the running becomes a course of dodging. But that isn’t the only occasion you can practice you dodging skills. Throughout the race there are color stations where volunteers through paint at you. Literally. While getting near those stations, people tend to slow down and make sure they are soaked on paint; therefore, getting through there is another dodging lesson.
As promised, another group of volunteers were giving out the promised color bomb (a plastic bag with powder color) that you could spread among your friends after crossing the finish line or save it for a prank. Either way, crossing the finish line is a great feeling and even more fulfilling if you share the experience with people you care about.
The event was very well organized. There was easy and plenty parking. There were different starting times so that the hundreds of people that went wouldn’t provoke a stampede, and people left with little to no white spots in their shirts as planned.
The best part is that all the fun and the registration fee are off to a good cause: the Special Olympics Texas. Its mission is to provide year-round athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Color me rad vision is to become the premier provider of Special Olympics training and competition in the world. Their intent is to improve the quality of life for the athletes with enthusiasm and commitment.
1-2-3 Ready to Go 