CHARLESTON, W.Va. – It will be a colorful Saturday in Charleston when the city hosts, for the first time, The Color Vibe 5K.
Color Vibe events are held around the country. Jeff Hatch, the director of the run, said they wanted to come to Charleston because it’s the perfect place to hold the event.
“It’s a combination between, a fun event where there’s a dance party but you also get the healthy end with a 5K run or walk. It’s low pressure because it’s not timed.”
So where does the color come in?
“It’s a lot of fun because there’s a lot of color. We use colored corn starch and it’s really safe, really bright fun colors that people get all over them,” said Hatch. “They look like a bag of Skittles by the time they’re done!”
You’ll get tossed in color before and during the race. There are five “color zones” along route where runners will be “splashed” with color. Those locations include, in front of the Kanawha County Courthouse and either side of Kanawha Boulevard under the Southside Bridge.
Color Vibe has teamed up with the Special Olympics of West Virginia. The charity will receive part of the proceeds. As of Friday morning more than 4,500 people have signed up to take part.
It’s family friendly. Kids 7 and younger get to participate free. Hatch said the color just adds to the excitement.
“There are other similar events out there for sure, but we really pride ourselves on the [color] formula we use. It’s made in the U.S. Its very, very safe. It’s FDA approved. People don’t have to worry about breathing it in and it washes out really nicely,” said Hatch
Registration continues until the 9 a.m. Saturday at Magic Island in Charleston. The cost is $50.00 on the day of the run. The Color Vibe Dance Party will be held at Magic Island after the run.