Breaking news: thousands volunteer and thousands run 26.2 in NYC anyway

By now you know that the 2012 ING New York City marathon was an on-again, off-again media debacle.

With thousands of mid-Atlantic residents homeless and running low on food and water, New York city officials decided to cancel the race. Unfortunately the cancellation came too late for most participants to get refunds on pricey airfare and hotel accommodations.

(For those of you thinking "too bad. so sad. at least you didn't lose your house" remember that many runners spent more than a thousand dollars on airfare, registration, and accommodations. An earlier cancellation would have made at least some refunds possible. There's no need to add company to misery.)

Making the best of a bad situation...
ABC news and USA Today are reporting that thousands of runners converged on Staten Island this morning, not to start a 26.2 mile run, but to put their endurance training to work in the cleanup effort.

In addition, my sources on the ground in Central Park tell me that there is a marathon underway despite the cancellation. Thousands of runners showed up this morning to run the "old route" - the 1970s original course which includes four loops around Central Park.

Photo borrowed from my friend, D

Times will not be recorded. The run will never show up on searchable race results. There will be no age group awards or post-race celebration. But runners who spent months preparing for the race will know that their training did was not for naught. Many participants are running for charity via organizations like Run4NYC.

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To donate directly to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, see the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief page.

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?