This is not your average 5k. Well, The Color Run isn’t a typical marathon to begin with, but combine that with vast mountain scenery and brightly-colored snow and you’ve got an unforgettable event. It’s no wonder 3,000 people signed up for Copper Mountain’s Color Run.
So What is The Color Run?
The Color Run, also known as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet,” is a unique paint race. Participants begin at the starting line dressed in white, then run through various “color zones” where they are doused with pink, yellow, blue and purple (not to mention environmentally-friendly) paint. By the time they cross the finish line, everyone is vibrant with color. The Color Run—meant to celebrate healthiness, happiness and individuality—hosted more than 170 events in more than 30 countries in 2013 alone.
A Little About The Color Run at Copper Mountain
The Color Run took place on Copper Mountain—the first and only Color Run to take place in snow—on April 19, 2014. There were check-in parties the day before and the day of the race.
The Color Run was an untimed race on a strategically marked snow path that crossed over parts of the mountain and Copper Mountain’s golf course. Copper Mountain revamped the base village area and put down fresh snow in preparation for this event. This snow-packed, high-altitude course provided a fun challenge for the runners. There were 3,000 participants, not including the spectators, supporters and mountain skiers and snowboarders.
How Can You Get Creative with Your Next Event?
Zach Ostrander, Copper Mountain’s events and partnership sales manager, explained how Copper Mountain is always looking for out-of-the-box ways to spice up their events or create new events. Here are some ideas and questions to ask yourself when you want to be daringly creative:
- What hasn’t been done? As you see with the first-ever Color Run in the snow, this never-attempted event turned out to be a huge success. People love the idea of “being the first” and saying “I was there when it first started.”
- What has been done and how can I apply that to my own event? Copper Mountain took your typical idea of hosting a marathon and partnered with a company that creates a unique and thrilling 5k. Do some research to see what other companies like The Color Run are out there. Don’t hesitate to ask for outside help and create partnerships.
- Work with what you have. Copper Mountain utilized its rolling hills and beautiful mountain to its advantage when planning this outdoor event. Ask yourself what your facility or area has to offer. Do you have a lot of open space? Host a maze-marathon or race. Is there water on the property? Throw a friendly rock-skipping or canoe-racing competition. Working with what you already have will also save you money.
- Make a weekend out of it. The Color Run was featured as a part of Copper Mountain’s Sun-Sation weekend, which is already a popular event in itself and most likely led to a larger crowd. Or, offer something for your guests to do before, during or after the event, such as Copper Mountain’s Color Run pre- and post-race parties. Both of these ideas are a great way to entertain a wide range of personalities and keep people there longer.
- Go big or go home. Ostrander said there were a lot of nerves about hosting that many people—participants, spectators and skiers and snowboarders—but the entire event was a success. In fact, Copper Mountain was originally supposed to close for the season that weekend, but stayed open due to the recent snowfall. This actually may have turned out in their favor; skiers and snowboarders surely saw how much fun the runners were having, and many might even sign up for the next one. Make your event well-known through social media and don’t make it exclusive; the more the merrier!
- Surprise everyone. Ever consider mixing two sports together (i.e. footgolf) or playing a sport in a different setting (i.e. mud volleyball)? Offer the winners fun prizes and trophies (such as free admission to your next event or a petrified gold-painted shoe for first place in a race). Have a best-dressed fan contest or a mascot-challenge. Don’t have a mascot? Make one! (Note the Color Run’s Runnercorn while crowd-surfing.) Raise money for a charity; Copper Mountain’s Color Run participants donated to Children’s Colorado hospital. Remember, little perks and side activities make a big difference at events.
Ostrander explained that he sits down with a committee every so often to discuss new and unique ideas. Build your own creativity committee to figure out the details and logistics of potential ideas. Don’t be afraid to try any idea you think you and your own friends or family would enjoy; you never know how far an idea can go.
