THE COLOR RUN TO KICK OFF 2014 EVENT SERIES IN PORT ELIZABETH ON 24 AUGUST

(Port Elizabeth, 22 July 2014) Port Elizabeth is getting ready to paint the town red… blue, green, and yellow! The world’s largest event series and the original of all paint races, The Color Run™, is once again heading to Port Elizabeth to give locals and visitors the time of their lives, as they transform the town’s streets into a five kilometre canvas of colour.

Internationally renowned as a fun, family-friendly race, The Color Run™ celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back, as it brings people together to create the happiest 5km on the planet.

Tickets have recently been released online for this exciting event and Color Runners can pre-register for the 2014 event series. Kids under ten years old are free, provided they are accompanied by an adult. 

Entries are filling up fast and participants are encouraged to enter now at www.thecolorrun.co.za

Official race registration will be held at Campus Boma, South Campus at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University on Friday, 22 August and Saturday, 23 August between 10h00 – 5pm. Color Runners can collect their race packs full of goodies: Color Run branded t-shirt, headband, temporary tattoos and race number. A free packet of powder will also be thrown into the race packs to start the excitement!

The fun will start at 10h00 at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Summerstrand. The start is to be staged in waves, three minutes apart, to ensure that Color Runners have enough room to enjoy the five kilometre route. The finish line is located close to the start where Runners and their families can enjoy music, local food vendors, giveaways and colourful fun in the festival zone.

Color Runners should arrive at the start wearing the white t-shirt and headbands provided in their race packs. Once the starting gun fires, the festival of colour begins. The first four kilometres of the event are each associated with the colours of the South African flag: 

yellow, red, blue and green. In each colour zone, volunteers blast participants with clouds of brightly coloured powder. The race ends with a colour-throwing party where Color Runners and spectators get to make the world a more vibrant place whilst dancing to their favourite music.

Don’t let the term ‘Color Runners’ stop you from entering. The Color Run™ is a non-timed event, so it’s all about having fun, rather than competing for Olympic gold. 60% of participants are first-time runners, entering for the sheer joy of doing something unique, healthy and fun, with family and friends. Run, jog, walk, rollerblade, get pushed in a pram ... anything goes! There is one rule: have the most colourful fun of your life - it’s not called “the Happiest 5k on the Planet” for nothing.

Some might suspect that “the messiest 5k” is an apt name for the event, but you needn’t worry about going to work on Monday morning with hair like Nicki Minaj. The non-toxic Color Run™ powder washes off easily from hair and skin, and with a bit of washing power, it also comes out of clothes (just don’t wear your best outfit!).

Once the fun is wrapped up, the clean-up process commences of the tonnes of organic corn starch, which is actually what the colour powder is made of. The starch is dyed with organic food colouring, completely safe and natural, thus the local cleaning company have a swift job dusting off the colour around the route.

Fortunately, there’s a lot that stays behind after The Color Run™ - not just great memories and technicolour photos. Although a global initiative, The Color Run™ supports local suppliers for each event. 

Local events organiser, Z Sports, will be co-ordinating the 2014 event in Port Elizabeth. Established in 2007, Z Sports is an event management company that engages, participates in and manages activities and projects that support, promote, and advance sport in the Eastern Cape. The Color Run™ is also a socially conscious event platform that uses its proceeds to donate to a local charity.

To find out more about The Color Run™ 5k event, contact hello@thecolorrun.co.za or visit www.thecolorrun.co.za. For regular updates LIKE the Facebook page www.facebook.com/thecolorrunsouthafrica

or FOLOW US on Twitter @TheColorRunSA