Color Run 2013 -- Thoughts & Tips for Beginners (My First 5k)

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions shared are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click to view our full disclosure.

I did my first 5k — the Color Run 2013 — in Nashville, TN last Saturday!!

Since Disney, my mom and I have both had a cold or really bad allergies. We had signed up for the Color Run almost 3 months ago though. We decided to go even with 1-working nostril a piece, and I’m so glad we did.

Before the Color Run:

-2 Days Before: Thursday and Friday they had our race packets available at a big mall close to the race. Jake was sweet enough to pick them up so I could nap and fight off my cold the Friday before. :)

–On Saturday, we had a banana and peanut butter toast to warm up and prevent cramping.
–Getting to the Run: We left with the idea of getting there 60-45 minutes early. Traffic was TERRIBLE. Everyone in Nashville was doing the race. We got there about 8:45, and the race started at 9:00. If you are doing the Color Run, leave the house really early.

When we got there, we got into the big group of the other runners. The had music, prizes, and even a unicorn! Very cool.

3 Things that Surprised Me About the Color Run (and 5K’s)

1. We did the 5k in groups. Because there were so many of us, the Color Run took about 100 people in each group. Those people made their way to the starting line, and started each group about 2-5 minutes apart to help with congestion.
2. The color is sprayed on by people. I don’t know why, but I was thinking of these huge cannons spraying me with paint. Not the case (Thankfully, cannons … scary!). It’s actually people smiling and spraying you with paint each “K” of the 5K.
3. It’s un-timed. I guess I just assumed even a fun-run was timed. I seriously pictured fit people stretching, drinking water, and eating a ton of a bananas. It was nothing like that. People even had strollers! It was less intimidating that I expected.

I did expect to get sprayed with lots of color! I also had heard blondes can have their hair stained! I sprayed mine with shine spray before going, and I didn’t have any problems. A friend said her’s were stained for 3 weeks though so be careful blondes!