What do the Holi festival and a 5k have in common?

Mud runs are soooo 2009.

The hottest trend this year?

Color runs.

Patterned after the Holi Festival, a tradition in India, color runs are both a run and a social event. According to race organizer, Color In Motion:

You just show up wearing white and we do the rest!  As you sprint, jog, waddle, or leisurely stroll along you will be bombarded with bright colors that transform a group of ordinary runners into a moving rainbow.  The color that you will be showered in is completely safe and washes off easily...

So what, exactly, is the color that stains your clothes but is non-toxic?

Fairy dust, pixie powder, rainbow drops, star sprinklings...whatever you want to call it... the color powder is basically a mixture of cornstarch and dye that is 100% safe and biodegradable. You probably don't want to eat it, but it won't hurt you.

Ok. I'm intrigued.

To learn more about these events, I interviewed Hannah Davidson, who works for Color In Motion.

Beth: Color In Motion just launched this year, so this is still a fairly new concept. How many cities now have Color in Motion events?
Hannah: We have 3 open for registration, and a ton more on the books for the coming 12 months.

Beth: How big are Color In Motion races?
Hannah: We expect over 5k people at each event. Dallas, TX is on track to be the biggest event so far.

Beth: How far in advance do you start planning a 5k?
Hannah: Months! It takes forever to get things logistically ready.

Beth: How many staff and how many volunteers do you typically require for a 5k race?
Hannah: Between 100-150

Beth: What is the most difficult part of organizing a race?
Hannah: Finding the perfect charity to help promote! We take giving seriously, and want to be sure that what we do each day helps those deserving.

Beth: What is your favorite part of organizing a race?
Hannah: Seeing people excited and ready for the biggest party of the year!

Beth: What is the strangest complaint (or compliment) you've ever received from a participant? Hannah: The best question has been "Can my dog come? If he is wearing goggles, of course!"

Beth: Is there anything else you'd like readers to know?
Hannah: There are many opportunities for people to participate. We are always looking for volunteers and participants. Check out the Color In Motion website for more information about these options.


Beth: Thanks, Hannah, for sharing your time with us!

Readers:
Have you done a color run?

Behind the scenes at a 10k (interview with a race director)

Eric and son after the 2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k

Do you daydream about quitting your day job to work in the athletic industry? Maybe the lure of being a race director tempts you when you're tired at the end of a long work week?

If you've ever wondered what it's like to organize a race, this interview is for you.

Eric Engemann is Vice President of Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation and Race Director of the Amedisys Mardi Gras Mambo 10k. Eric took some time out of his busy schedule to answer my questions so readers can get a sense of what it's like to run a race (pun intended).

Beth: When did the Mardi Gras Mambo 10k get its start?
Eric: The Mardi Gras Mambo 10k started in 1999 after our local newspaper suspended what was once the Great River Road Run 10k here in Baton Rouge. Our organization, with the help of our local running club and race partner, Club South Runners, looked to fill that void with the Mambo.

Beth: What other races/events does BRASF organize during the year?
Eric: We help support about 75 different sports events in Baton Rouge annually but we are solely responsible for the Mambo, the Battlefield Cross Country Festival which is a high school/middle school cross country event and a flag football tournament series that we are just starting this year. We also serve as the volunteer coordinator for the Louisiana Marathon, which is in its second year coming up in January.

2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k

Beth: How long have you been working in the athletic event industry?
Eric: My athletic industry career started in college athletics at LSU, University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin. I started working on runs when I was at UW with the Crazy Legs Classic (8k run, over 18,000 participants) and loved it. I started here with BRASF in 2007 and got the opportunity to work on and eventually direct the Mambo as well as a number of other Baton Rouge area running events.

Beth: How did you get started?
Eric: Volunteering got me started in running events; I wanted to learn as much as I could so I grabbed a race calendar and just started showing up to learn as much as I could – those early days paid off a ton.

Beth: How far in advance do you start planning an event like a 10k?
Eric: We generally start in June for a February race but that start date is getting pushed back further and further the larger the race gets!

Beth: How many staff and how many volunteers do you need for a 5k or 10k race?
Eric: We will have four staff members and about 40-50 volunteers on site for our 10k of about 2,000 runners. Some advancements have allowed us to use less volunteers and a number of our sponsors now bring large contingents of their employees to help out in different ways as well.

Beth: What is the hardest part of organizing a race?
Eric: Definitely race week – there’s so much that has to be done in such a short time frame that it wears on you mentally more than anything.

Beth: What is your favorite part of organizing a race?
Eric: Everything else! Honestly it is a lot of fun when you can facilitate a race where people can participate for a fair price, get some great stuff, run a fun course at a distance they may not tackle very often, and help them meet a fitness or distance milestone that they have been shooting for. That’s the “good stuff” as they say…

2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k

Beth: What is the strangest complaint (or compliment) you've ever received from a participant?
Eric: I'm not sure if this is a complaint or compliment but we traditionally announce the age group winners oldest to youngest – we like everyone to recognize those older ladies and gentlemen who can still go fast! And I think they appreciate the recognition.

Beth: ... after reading this, I know exactly what my "retirement career" will be. Until then, I have a couple of decades of volunteering and daydreaming to do. Thanks, Eric!

Readers:
What's your "dream job?"
What else would you like to know about being a race director?