More than 5,500 runners painted the town red (and blue and yellow and orange) Saturday in a 5K that feels like a Zumba class crossed with Holi, the Hindu festival of color.
Here's how it works. First, line up at the starting line near Chene Park in Detroit's Rivertown neighborhood.
When the MC says "go," chase this hot dog. First one to "touch his buns" (their words) wins a neon fanny pack.
Then, run 5K along the riverfront while getting pelted with color bombs by volunteers.
They have a variety of color shooting tools in their arsenal, like color-filled fire extinguishers and power washers.
Some people like this more than others.
It's a forgiving race. Turns out you don't even have to run. No one is timing you. So, some people rolled. Some people galloped. Some people got a ride.
However you can, just make it to the finish line.
After you've made it, join the other runners for post-race reveling. According to the MC, "Detroit has the best dancers. No doubt!"
Don't panic if blowing your nose looks like Skittles and showering looks like murdering a Smurf. The color bombs are filled with colored cornstarch, so everything will wash off. This did not stop a small child from claiming he "will never ever wash this shirt."
Street clean up is more "extensive," according to race volunteers. Street sweepers, power washers, and garbage collectors of the paid and volunteer variety will swarm the area after the race to return the riverfront to its usual shine. Rain will wash away the rest.
The Color Me Rad 5K is found in nearly 100 cities in the US and Canada, and stopped in Detroit this year to benefit World Aids Day Detroit. More photos are in the gallery below.
