Fort Rucker hosts 1st Color Run

By Nathan Pfau, Army Flier Staff WriterAugust 21, 2015

Fort Rucker hosts 1st Color Run
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (August 21, 2015) -- There are many ways to make fitness a fun, active part of daily life, and Fort Rucker's physical fitness centers are looking to help show the way.

The Fort Rucker Physical Fitness Center will host its first Color Run Aug. 29 at 8 a.m. as a fun way to tackle fitness, according to Anne Sullivan, fitness programs coordinator.

"This is not your typical run," said Sullivan. "A lot of the races we run on post are more competitive, and we have timing systems and trophies and medals, but with the color run we wanted to go in a different direction, so this run is just a fun run."

People won't earn any accolades or bragging rights for this particular run, but one thing they will have is a good time, said the fitness programs coordinator.

The run is a 2-mile event that will feature color stations that are set up along the course. The stations will feature different colors made up of corn starch that will be thrown by volunteers onto runners as they pass, so participants are encouraged to wear white to get as colorful as possible.

"There will be people there whose job it is just to cover people in colors, so hopefully people will be completely coated by the time they're done," said the fitness programs coordinator.

The event is a way to encourage people to get out and be active, said Sullivan, and show people that fitness doesn't always have to be a chore. Participants are welcome to walk or run the course, and are encouraged to bring their children and pets to take part in the race.

There will also be inflatable bounce houses for children to play in.

The route will start on Ruf Avenue behind Fortenberry-Colten Physical Fitness Center and head down toward Lyster Army Health Clinic. From there the route will circle back around, making a figure eight before heading back to the fitness center.

When all participants have crossed the finish line, everyone will gather with a cup full of color and toss it in the air for maximum color coverage to close out the event.

Sullivan said this is a new approach to encouraging people to get involved in fitness, and hopes that it's something that will start a lifestyle change for some.

"As a fitness professional, I think it's really important to invite people in," she said. "There are a lot of people who don't think of fitness as something they might enjoy, but rather something that's more of a chore.

"That's why an event like this is really cool because, especially for younger people, it could open their eyes to fitness and show them that being fit and being active can be fun -- it can be a social thing," she added.

Sullivan said that one of the biggest discouraging factors for people to get into fitness is how intimidating working out can be, especially in front of others.

"A lot of people can get discouraged in participating in some runs because they don't want to be the last ones to cross the finish line," she said. "There's this sort of idea that you have to be a runner to participate, but you don't."

She is also hopeful that the Color Run can open up the fitness program to more exciting, new events to encourage more participation.

"If this is well received, I hope that this can open up to more fun races," said the fitness programs coordinator. "We've got pretty good numbers signed up, and if we do well, I think the seed will be planted and hopefully we'll be able to add some new events."

The event is open to the public and the cost of the run is $12 per individual entry with no shirt included, and $20 with a T-shirt included, if signed up by Aug. 24. After that, the cost of registration up to the day of the race is $25, which includes a shirt while supplies last. Teams of eight can also register through Aug. 24 for $120, which includes a T-shirt, with prices increasing to $160 after.

People can register at either physical fitness center, as well as in Bldg. 5700 at MWR Central, and people are encouraged to register early. Children under age 12 may register for free.

For more information, call 255-2296.

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Fort Rucker, Ala.

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