Color Me Rad Spawns Copy Cats in Missoula in 2014

Nationally recognized 5K run Color Me Rad made it's debut last year in Missoula and around 4,500 racers participated to raise money for the Zootown Arts Community Center.

In fact the run was so successful, that two 'copy cat' runs are planned for 2014 in Missoula. Really Missoula? We couldn't come up with an original idea for yet another run?

Color Me Rad returns this year on May 3rd at Ogren Park, aka, Missoula Osprey Field. There's still time to take advantage of the early bird registration special and help fund classes, projects and programs that enrich the lives of local children at Missoula's ZACC.

Here's more from Linds at the Zootown Arts Community Center:

Missoula’s local non-profit the Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC)
brings Color Me Rad, a nationally recognized 5K run and walk, back to
Missoula for the second time.   The popularity of last year’s run has
inspired an onslaught of copy-cat companies hosting near-identical color
runs to rush to Missoula.

Color Me Rad inspired 4,500 runners last year from Missoula to partake in
the first ever color run.   The idea is simple and iconic: runners start
in white t-shirts and are bombarded with vibrantly colored corn starch at
each kilometer of the run.

With the popularity of last year’s Color Me Rad run, similar color runs
are visiting Missoula with “The Color Run” coming in September and “Color
or Dye” coming at a date not yet announced.

Color Me Rad Programmer Andy Miller said this is not the first time other
color runs have visited a town only after Color Me Rad spearheaded the
first event.   While other color runs swarm Missoula, Miller said Color Me
Rad is distinctly different.

“We take pride in really taking care of the venue, making sure the
atmosphere is very high energy, and that everyone that participates has a
blast at the event,” said Miller.  “The after-parties have grown so much
from prior years and we are excited to bring another round of good times
to Missoula.”

Color Me Rad is more than a 5k, but an event the whole family can become
involved in for the sake of charity.  This year the run hopes to raise up
to $7,500 for the ZACC, a community center providing art education and
experience to Missoula.

“The donation from Color Me Rad is essential for our programming and
allows us to ensure that we can offer scholarships to anyone in need and
keep art accessible to all people in Missoula,” said ZACC Executive
Director Kia Liszak.

Last year the race was held on the edge of Missoula.  This year they move
towards the heart of Missoula centering on the Ogren Park Allegiance
Field, home of the Missoula Osprey.

"We are very excited to be the host venue for the Color Me Rad race," said
Missoula Osprey Vice President and General Manager Jeff Griffin. "Ogren
Park Allegiance Field and downtown Missoula is a perfect fit for this
regional event that will provide an economic boost to the community."

Registration for the Color Me Rad 5K is now open at a discounted price for
early birds and commences May 3.

When registering, runners should use Promotional Code “ZACC” to get 10%
off the registration fee and donate 10% to the Missoula’s only nonprofit
art center, the Zootown Arts Community Center.

To register and for more information visit www.zootownarts.org/color.