Runners won't fade but colors will run

I've seen many of my friends on Facebook post pictures of themselves with very colorful chalk all over themselves. I had no idea why they were like that, but then I read it was for the color run. It looks really fun, but extremely messy. I also heard that you inhale a lot of colored chalky substance, which probably isn't to good for the lungs. Also, I can't imagine how dirty the inside of cars are after a long day of running through colored chalk. I personally don't like the mess of it, but it does look fun to volunteer for. Those who actually run or jog can get an extremely good workout from the color run. 


By Mary MacVean

March 9, 2013

Take your pick next weekend: a 26.2-mile sweat-slicked slog or a 3.1-mile jog in which you are likely to get blasted with powders in all the colors of the rainbow.

Guess which one is called the Graffiti Run?

"Most people, when they do their first 5K, it's daunting. We're really nonjudgmental," says Nadia Madesan, the run coordinator. "Our run is really friendly to everyone."

The website (www.thegraffitirun.com) says, "So feel free to run, walk, dance, crawl, roll, piggyback ride or somersault your way through the color madness."

The run was inspired by Holi, the Hindu springtime festival of colors.

"You get doused with color. It's photogenic. Kids love it," Madesan said.

The organization holds other running events too. Its first Graffiti Run drew 4,000 runners in Houston in December. And there are similar runs, including Color Me Rad, which has a June race planned in Los Angeles.

The March 16 run is at the L.A. Fairplex in Pomona; same-day registration is allowed if the event doesn't fill up.

After the run, there's a party with music and color packets that create big colorful clouds when tossed. The colored powder is a nontoxic, non-rash-inducing cornstarch-based product, the organizers said.

mary.macvean@latimes.com

Original Article