FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 12, 2015) -- Everyone started out spotless, but throughout the Color Me BOSS 5K run, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers volunteers coated runners with powders of blue, green, pink, purple and yellow until their faces, shirts and bodies came out looking tie-dyed on the other side.
Participants were all smiles during the fun run that took place July 31 at the Nash Boulevard BOSS Center. The weather was beautiful, and everyone's shirt was clean … that is, until they crossed the finish line.
During the Color Me BOSS event, volunteers fired off color bombs, cannons and mortars that guaranteed to brighten the runners' outlook. A total of 678 runners participated in this colorful event beginning in four waves.
This is the second time this event has been offered on the installation, according to Michelle Roden, Fort Drum Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers senior program adviser.
BOSS and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation decided to organize the Color Me BOSS because of the number of single Soldiers showing interest in this type of event.
"With the help of the Family and MWR staff and our BOSS volunteers, this event was a success," Roden said.
Representatives from the BOSS program researched similar events to come up with different ideas to enhance this year's event, she added.
"We received great feedback," Roden said. "This is my favorite event to host. The energy is high and the smiles are wide."
Each runner received a Color Me BOSS T-shirt, sunglasses and a color bomb to toss onto fellow runners. The run encouraged different units to participate for the purpose of building team cohesion, while Family Members were invited to join the fun.
The race route took participants through Division Hill and finished back at the BOSS Center with various colors being shot at them along the route. Each section of the run added a new explosion of color to the runners until they crossed the finish line into a final blitzkrieg of color.
A party kicked off at the BOSS Center after the race, offering food, drinks, free photos and music.
Roden said BOSS enjoys being able to present these fun events.
"We are looking forward to our next great event called the Zombie 5K on Oct. 30," Roden said.
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