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Kaleidoscope Tour's Color Run Comes To Gainesville

Participants partake in a “color throw” following the race - everyone in the audience tossed their color packets into the air at once. The result was a cloud of color that rose above the crowd, growing larger after the next color throw was conducted.
Participants partake in a “color throw” following the race - everyone in the audience tossed their color packets into the air at once. The result was a cloud of color that rose above the crowd, growing larger after the next color throw was conducted.

The Kaleidoscope Tour paid a visit to Gainesville on Saturday morning for the 2014 edition of the Color Run.

Nicknamed "The Happiest 5K On The Planet," the Color Run drew a crowd of hundreds who walked and jogged through downtown Gainesville and surrounding neighborhoods while getting covered in colored powder from volunteers stationed every kilometer along the race course.

Beginning in Bo Diddley Plaza, the event featured entertainment on a makeshift stage before the race and plenty of photo opportunities. Because the race was not timed, families with small children and participants who wanted to enjoy the scenery along the race course could do so as joggers and runners passed by.

Five color stations, where clouds of colored powder drifted for miles, were set up to greet race participants.

At the finish line, additional color packets were distributed to all participants, who sent a slew of powder flying through the air and started color fights with perfect strangers.

By the end of the event, the streets were littered with confetti and layers of color caked the cobblestones while Pharrell’s “Happy” played over the speakers in the square.

The Kaleidoscope Tour is set to return to Gainesville next year, leaving racers more happiness to look forward to in the months to come.

<i>Two runners pose in front of the official Kaleidoscope Tour tent in the middle of Bo Diddley Plaza. Several additional locations in the plaza were set up for participants to take “before” photos prior to the race. </i>

<i>One of the youngest Color Run participants waits atop his father’s shoulders for the signal of the start of the race. To keep everyone entertained while they waited, a DJ threw free Color Run gear into the crowds while a bubble machine excited the youngest in attendance. </i>

<i>A woman prepares to run through the first of five color stations along the race course. Volunteers used squirt bottles to spray participants with an all-natural pink powder at the first checkpoint. </i>

<i>A Color Run volunteer covers walkers in pink powder at the first station of the race. Those who chose to walk the entire course were often the most colorful at the finish line.</i>

<i>A young Color Run participant hitches a ride from her mother after the second color station. The race course began in downtown Gainesville and wove through many residential neighborhoods where residents stood outside, waving and cheering runners on. </i>

<i>Two runners pour yellow powder on each other after crossing the finish line. Color packets were handed out to every racer, who sent colors flying across the plaza’s finish line for hours.</i>

<i>Members of the Gator Nation take a break from throwing their color packets to pose for a photo doing the "Gator Chomp." The Gator Nation was evident everywhere on Saturday. </i>

<i>A Color Run participant proudly shows his colors, which were even on his tongue. Many racers were covered head-to-toe by the end of the race. </i>

<i>Participants partake in a “color throw” following the race - everyone in the audience tossed their color packets into the air at once. The result was a cloud of color that rose above the crowd, growing larger after the next color throw was conducted. </i>

<i>Two young runners take in the scene post-race. Many other young children and infants came along with their parents through the race course. </i>

<i>University of Florida students Megan duTreil and Elise duTreil throw confetti after completing the Color Run. Like the majority in attendance, they felt the race was organized well and already committed to returning next year.</i>

<i>A family makes “confetti angels” at the finish line. The Color Run has proven it is a race for all ages and delivered on its promise to be the “happiest 5K on the planet." </i>

Erica is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.