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Saturday Run Brings Rainbow
COLOR 2
As the runners pass by a color station, they fight back with some powder of their own, both volunteers and participants seeing red. Marg Jackson/The News

 

The early morning chill on Saturday had the runners lined up and ready to go for the inaugural ‘Color Run’ at Riverbank’s Jacob Myers Park … and colorful really doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Wearing their white Color Run T-shirts that were part of the registration fee for the roughly 3-mile walk/run along the paved path at the park, participants were first encouraged to open up their colored powder packets and fling the color skyward, only to have it settle down on themselves and those around them before getting the official ‘start’ to the race.

Strategically placed color throwers were set up on the course as well, manning stations where additional blue, red, yellow and more were flung at the runners as they passed by. Runners who thought ahead and kept some powder packets were able to fling back, inflicting a little color on the volunteers as well.

It was all in good fun, said Riverbank’s Park and Recreation spokesperson Kerrie Webb, and all runners knew when they signed up that they were in for a colorful time. Riverbank High School student Eli Vernon served as emcee for the event, encouraging the runners along the route and helping them get the colorful run started.

Runner Stephanie Navarette of Ceres donned some Easter Bunny ears as she ran the course, keeping up a steady pace in the Saturday morning event. Runners toed the line just before 8 a.m. to start the run. There were no ‘winners’ and it was not a timed event; just a fun free for all.

“Yeah, it’s fun,” said seventh grader Noemi Azpeitia, on the course with friend and fellow seventh grader Daisy Ramirez. Color packets in hand, they were plotting who and when they would surprise with a color shower. And they both said it is something they would do again.

Marcy Zamora, with daughter Ara, 2, in a stroller on the course, was also loaded down with color by the end.

“She’s ready for me to run around again,” Zamora said, chuckling.

The RHS Athletic Boosters Club was on hand with a booth selling a variety of pastries, candy, breakfast bars and beverages, with proceeds supporting all sports at Riverbank High School.

Webb said there were just under 150 runners for this first-ever Color Run for the city and registration fees basically just covered the cost of the materials needed to put it on, but she said everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

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