*A few of the most common questions asked by our fearless Color Runners!
Do I need to be some sweet ole’ runner to do this?
Oh my goodness, NO. There are plenty of other great 5ks out there to test speed and performance. The Color Run event is all about a color crazy day with friends and family. You can run, walk, crawl, or cartwheel if you wish!
What is included with my registration?
For our Hero Tour events, each registered runner will receive the 2018 limited edition Hero Tour Participant Kit complete with a super soft new tee, unicorn finisher’s medal, Color Runner buff, color packet, unicorn pin, and two tattoos!
All runners will be emailed about 10 days prior to the race with information on dates and locations for the Check-In Party!!
Is The Color Run a charity or a non-profit organization?
The Color Run is neither a charity nor a non-profit organization. The Color Run, LLC is a for-profit event company. For details on our charity partnerships click here.
What is the inspiration behind The Color Run?
The Color Run is the first paint race of its kind and was inspired by several awesome events, including Disney’s World of Color, Paint Parties, Mud Runs, and festivals throughout the world such as Holi. We wanted to create a less stressful and untimed running environment that is more about health and happiness! We hope that The Color Run can act as a catalyst to inspire continual healthy living.
Can children participate?
On one condition, if you are prepared to be one of the hippest moms/dads on the planet! If they can cover (running, jogging, walking, or strolling) the three miles of The Color Run course, they can absolutely participate in The Color Run!
There are two options for all Little Color Runners 5 and younger on the registration form. They can register for a super low fee and get the full participant kit, or chose to register for free without a participant kit.
Can I run with my dog/cat/turtle?
For the safety of our runners and animal friends, we do not allow animals at any of our races 
How do I get my participant kit? How does that work?
If you bought the Mega or Ultra ticket, your participant kit and race bib will be mailed to you before the event. Once you have them in your hand you do not need to check-in for the event. Simply show up race morning with your race bib pinned to the front of your shirt and you’ll be good to go!
For all other ticket types, details on when and where the Check-In Party will be are posted to the city event page during the week of the race as well as emailed to all registered runners approximately 7-10 days before the event.
Can someone else pick up my packet for me?
You bet! As long as you send them with a printed or electronic copy of your confirmation email with the QR code on it!
How is the color administered along the course?
You will see smiling faces along the course whose main goal is to douse you in colorful powder to ensure that you look like you ran through a beautiful rainbow by the time you cross the finish line.
Is The Color Run safe?
The health and safety of our participants and our employees has always been at the forefront of our minds and actions. As a professional events company with highly vetted policies and processes, we conduct thorough testing to ensure the safety of our materials and their application. The Color Run has hosted more than 500 global events with more than four million participants and is committed to staging safe and secure events.
How do the post-race color throws work?
At the Finish Festival, the crowd will be involved in a color throw every 15 minutes to welcome new runners coming in. We provide one bag of color for each runner as you cross the finish line and more packets can be purchased on race day.
Will the color ruin clothes or running shoes?
The color does mostly wash out after the event. As with anything dirty, the sooner you wash it the better. We suggest wearing items that you wouldn’t mind getting colorful, and making sure to wash your color run items separately from your other laundry. Don’t forget to clean your clothes and shoes with Persil ProClean. For FULL color cleaning ideas and tips, check THIS LINK out!
Do you have a cleaning station at the finish after party?
We have air blown color cleaning at the finish line. With a good dusting off, you aren’t 100% clean, but you are good for the drive home. It is actually pretty fun to see people still colorful around town after The Color Run event. It is like a badge of honor!
How does the color affect the inside of cars?
Most people bring some towels for the insides of their cars, or a change of clothes just in case.
Do the kilometer Color Zones affect runner vision? Or breathing?
The color powder used at The Color Run event is all certified non-toxic and free of any heavy metals. Our bright colors are a combination of cornstarch, baking soda, and FD&C dyes. As with any substance, you want to keep it out of your eyes and our certified color throwers make sure to aim low as you pass by. Some Color Runners opt to wear glasses or goggles for their eyes and use a bandana or dust mask for their mouths.
Can spectators attend the post-race Finish Festival?
Absolutely. We will have The Color Run powder packets available first come/first serve for everyone to purchase at The Color Run Store. You may want to warn them though they ain’t coming out of The Color Run party clean!
Are cameras and phones safe to have in the color zones?
Our race photographers are generally fine shooting from a medium distance of 50 feet, but to be totally safe we always recommend covering cameras/phones with a protective dust wrap. Those colorful powder particles are sneaky and The Color Run is not liable for any damage that might be done to your camera!
Is The Color Run timed?
The Color Run 5k is not a timed event. Runners tend to take their sweet time out there and we realized no one really cares about their speed 
We suggest self-timing for anyone desiring a finish time.
Are there refunds?
If an event is held as advertised, we cannot issue refunds. The logistics of setting up and planning the event make it impossible. Just make sure you are good to go before signing up. If for some reason you can’t make it to race day, at least come to the Check-In Party, pick up your gear, and say hi to us!
For more information on our refund policy, click here.
Can I transfer my registration to another person?
Registrations are non-transferable. If you end up not being able to attend the event, you can transfer your registration to another city (details in next question) in the same calendar year or for a small shipping fee we can mail you your participant kit if you are unable to pick it up at the Check-In Party.
Can I transfer my registration from one city to another city?
We do allow transfers from city to city. As long as the transfer is within the same calendar year, the transfer is completed prior to the original event taking place and prior to the participant checking-in for the original event. Have further questions? Contact us here.
What if I have an ADA need?
If you have an ADA need please contact us here.
What if I am pregnant?
It’s totally up to what you and your doctor decide. We see a lot of pregnant runners at our races and they are the cutest ones out there! The powder is all certified non-toxic. We recommend wearing sunglasses or goggles, and a bandana over your mouth and nose in the color zones just for extra protection.
What happens if there is bad weather?
A little rain won’t stop The Happiest 5k! It even makes the color brighter! If there are major weather warnings in your city during the weekend of the event, check the city event webpage, and stay tuned for emails with updates.
In the event that severe weather does threaten the event, we have prepared some weather cancellation policies and guidelines. Click here to learn more.
What if I have a super sweet question that isn’t answered here?
Please click here to contact us and we will get back to you with an answer. If your question is awesome enough, we might even publish it right here on the official The Color Run FAQS page.