PRINTFun Runs in Missouri
Themed races have become the latest fitness trend
Courtesy of The Color Run
Kansas City participants show off their true colors during a run earlier this year. The Color Run held its first run in 2011 and has been coming to cities all over the country ever since.
August 16, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
After Zumba and P90X, the newest fad in fitness is the fun run. Not only do these themed races spice up seasoned runners’ exercise routines, but they also attract participants who might not otherwise lace up their sneakers. Here’s a look at upcoming fun runs throughout Missouri.
The Color Run
Where: St. Louis
When: Aug. 18
Cost: $45-50
Call: 1-855-MOCOLOR
Online: thecolorrun.com
Although this 5K is already sold out in St. Louis, runners can catch an upcoming race in one of the 50 other cities that will also host the color explosion. At the starting line, all participants begin with white shirts, and at each kilometer, they’re bombarded with colored dust made from cornstarch. Once they reach the fifth kilometer, a multi-colored powder shower begins. By the end, hundreds of people resemble rainbows. “I saw people in tutus and wigs,” participant Krystle Del Castillo says. “People went all out. It went by so fast because it was so fun.” The themed run has gained nationwide attention: It sells out quickly and was featured on Self magazine’s website.
Epic Mud Run
Where: Columbia
When: Sept. 2
Cost: $60 -195
Call: 777-2257
Online: ultramaxsports.com/epicmudrun
Some fun runs feature colored powder. Others involve mud. This one combines both — plus zombies. Columbia’s own themed run starts off with a jog through the Midway horse stables filled with Fearfest zombies. Runners go through the color zone and down 10-story water slides, which fling them into a 125-foot-long mud pit. Running through woods and creeks takes a lot more stamina than a normal 5K. Lacie Wright, who ran it last year, recommends some training beforehand. “My roommate and I did it together, and we did not train enough,” she says. “This is not a race you can just breeze through; you need to be a little more prepared.”
Warrior Dash
Where: Old Monroe
When: Sept. 29
Cost: $60-80
Call: 312-980-9983
Online: warriordash.com
This race can seem more like an army boot camp than a cheerful themed run. Brave participants are faced with obstacles involving mud pits, barbed wire and barricades. Near the finish line, runners must leap over low-burning “warrior fires” blocking the trail. Half an hour after the first wave of runners is released, the Warrior party begins. It will be filled with beer, live bands and fuzzy Viking helmets. Warrior Dash is so hard-core its website even has recommended training workouts to help runners prepare for the competition. Complete with instructional videos, the website details workout routines for Virgin, Casual and Ultimate Warriors.
Glow Run
Where: St. Louis
When: Oct. 6
Cost: $25-45
Contact: steve@glowrun5k.com
Online: glowrun5k.com
This after-dark 5K run/walk takes place on a glow-in-the-dark course in the Soulard neighborhood. Glowing cones and paint illuminate the route, which is equipped with black-light zones, Top 40 dance mixes and a bright finish line. Participants are decked out in neon clothing, jewelry and glow sticks. Runners should save some energy for what awaits as they finish the race: a beer garden and local DJs with a dance party going late into the night. The fastest runners won’t be the only ones receiving prizes; those with the most glow will as well. Although the Kansas City Glow Run already took place in July, another one comes to St. Louis on Oct. 6.
