Color run focuses on fun with ‘HEART’

Published 11:23 am Tuesday, October 7, 2014

2014 Color Me Free Fun Run

JOHN DAY – Runners and walkers of all ages and styles entered the Color Me Free Fun Run, with an emphasis on fun.

Heart of Grant County staged the event to kick off National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Organizers had hoped for a modest turnout, but as early registrations poured in, they figured they would see a crowd the morning of the race.

They were right.

“We had 200 racing numbers, and ran out of those,” said Heart’s executive director Shelly Whale.

She guesses there may have been as many as 225 participants.

A highlight of the color runs is the tossing of colorful powders on the runners and walkers as they start the 5K and at other times during the event.

Each person was given a T-shirt that started out white, but was marked with a rainbow of colors by the time they reached the finish line.

It was a memorable mixture of fitness – with no pressure to finish first – and fun, Whale said, noting it was great to be the first group in Grant County to offer a color run.

“It’s Heart’s first run, and we plan to have it annually, again at the first of October,” she said. “I think there was a positive feeling – it was a really happy day and the weather was perfect.”

She added, “We wanted to make sure that, more than anything, it was for fun – people could walk if they wanted or just go around the track once.”

Drawings for prizes were announced after runners hit the finish line, and the giveaways included two tickets to the Portland Zoo, gift certificates from local businesses, water mugs and T-shirts.

Whale and other organizers, including Heart advocate Sophia Nicodemus and office assistant Tammy Larkin, thought things went smoothly Saturday. They hope to make it even better next year with more colored powders – and more participants and volunteers.

“We wanted to make money to cover the expenses of the run, and, No. 1, let people be aware of what we do in the county – I think we did that,” Whale said.

She said Heart aims to be available to victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, rape, teen dating violence, to help support their needs.

The hotline number for those needing support is 541-620-1342.

Any extra proceeds from the event will go toward victim assistance, including emergency transportation, food cards, gas cards and other emergency needs.

For information on volunteering at next year’s fun run, call Heart’s office number, 541-575-4335.

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