The Color Run -San Jose 5K

First place for 5k color run 2015. I had a lot of fun that day. Some high school girls run really fast in the race too, I was impressed…:)

I had a lot of fun, and will definately do It again. We got to hang out… and get color faded… the only bad thing is they did not have anything to eat besides «kind» granola bars. But the race was cool… loved the free giveaways and they very organiazed… Had lots of fun. …only 3 stars due to they only had «kind» bars… I was hella hungry. …

My first «run» ever! Total success and total fun.
The event was really well done. Parking wasn’t so bad because parking lot had plenty of space. The drive was the worse, though. The event was majority filled with kids as kids run free. Nevertheless, there were still an older crowd.
Including in your $ 20 registration is your number and a color packet. Even before the event, colors were thrown everywhere. There’s two options, Day (5pm) and Night (8pm) run. There really wasn’t any difference between the times. I would suggest going the Day time because it got really hard to see as 6pm rolled.
5k went by fast. As they had a couple rest stations (water break and color stations). I was pretty excited whenever a color station was coming close. Boxes of color out free for grab!
At the finish line, you are rewarded with some nice EDM music. It would be cool if they actually had a famous DJ there. Overall, good vibes everywhere. Lots and lots of kids though. Although I walked 90% of the time, still a fun race :)

I was in the SF Color Run last year, so I knew exactly what to expect at the San Jose Color Run in downtown San Jose!
It was just as great, maybe even better than the one in SF!
1. Downtown streets were BLOCKED OFF especially for the this event, so tons of space for running/​walking. Track was visually appealing since it was on the roads and it felt like I was also getting a tour of Downtown SJ.
2. Color Stations weren’t visible, while you were going through the track so it was exciting to know it could happen any minute now.
3. Very sunny this year, so the colors were so pretty in pictures. Tons of professional photographers throughout the track to stalk for photos.
4. The crowd seems very enthusiastic. Some teams like to be themed, and I’ve seen mad scientist and royalty themes. For me, I just like to have a pretty tutu.
Also, at the end of the run, there was a concert-​like stage and crowd to do color bombing. Food trucks were there and also a stall for the partnering charity was there. This year it was the American Diabetes Association. Very glad they gave us the option to start a fundraising page JUST for donations directly for the charity. Unsure how each Color Run «partners» with other charities and distributes profit, but just go for the experience.
The Color Run is definitely something to enjoy with friends and family, sober or otherwise.

I do believe this was the first time San Jose held a Color Run so the hubs & I were wondering what to expect with the course & all that since we were SF Color Run veterans. Packet pickup was a lot easier with it being held at Sports Authority with lots of parking a few days before the race.
Come race day, one of my teammates’ hubby dropped us off so we could go head to the starting line. I must say I actually crossed the starting line completely white unlike the SF one. Oh SJ, you too orderly & obedient!
There were plenty of photographers along the course snapping photos that you could eventually get online for free (woot!).
For the course itself, the color zones didn’t feel as fun or messy as SF. I felt as if the volunteers had to restrain from using too much color so that cleanup would be easy. The runners also weren’t allowed to grab color from the containers to throw at each other (yes, it’s not allowed but SF didn’t obey this rule at all) so I got a mini one sentence lecture from a volunteer. Other than that, the course was enjoyable, especially with good company.
The after party was fun with color throws every 10 minutes, snacks from Red Bull & KIND, SJ Sharks giving out stickers, Microsoft with their photobooth & more photographers taking after photos.
Overall, I had a good time with my friends, but I would still prefer the SF location over this one any day!

This event was incredibly well organized.
There were tons of signs so it was very clear where you needed to go, to do whatever you needed to do. we were accidentally handed the wrong size t-​shirts and they gladly exchanged with us, without having to wait in the long line.
we absolutely loved the free professional pics that were being taken!
The run was honestly so fun! There were «color areas» every 1k meters. These areas had tons of music, and tons of volunteers squirting color at everyone. they were high-​fiving us as we walked by. it was awesome!
there were tons of people running, and the trail was well marked with the streets being blocked off to local traffic. never once were we in doubt about where to go.
The after party near the stage was so incredible. They just kept throwing color packets out into the audience and every 10mins we would do a «color throw».
Awesome epic time, i completely forgot i had run a 5k, which I was «iffy» about due to knee injury. i’d gladly do this again!!!

I normally run for time or place (or both), being a competitive runner. How refreshing and fun was the Color Run! I came with a friend who is athletic, but not super into running road races. She and I had a FABULOUS time and I will never forget it. Awesome fun before and after with the music, «color throws» after the race, and ladies with tutus coming up on stage at a designated time. No one was worried about time or place, as no one even times the race! Yep, I’m 34 and having fun with a tutu and color all over my face and body, but at the Color Run, all of this is acceptable and encouraged:). Truly the Happiest 5K on Earth, I’m signed up for the San Francisco race in October 2013 and can’t wait! Do it if you can!

«The Happiest 5K on the Planet!» This was my 1^st 5K (& race of any kind) & I absolutely LOVED it!!! The event was fun, energetic, & extremely well organized.
I purchased my registration through Living Social & was immediately given my registration code and instructions on how to register on
. Information packets were already available in PDF form on the website, as well as packet pick up instructions. When I arrived at the Sports Authority on Stevens Creek to get our packets, it was easy & well streamlined. It was also cheerful with all of the Color Run banners flying! I was in & out of there. I was immediately greeted at the door, given a coupon for my purchases that day, & directed to the appropriate part of the store. Along the way there were more volunteers pointing me the right way & I was ushered right away to a table to show my ID & get our wristbands, bib numbers, & temporary tattoos. The next step was to select a t-​shirt size. I was impressed that they had a sample of each size hanging on a rack so you could try them on & get the right size! They also had a Color Run Store booth where you could buy souvenir items for the big day. Music was pumping and I definitely got excited for the next day!
Unfortunately I realized when I got home that I was given the wrong size shirt for my boyfriend, so the next morning we arrived early to swap sizes. Parking was surprisingly easy @ the HP parking lot for $ 5 & traffic was minimal when we arrived at 7:45am. The Guadalupe Park area was already up & running with music & booths. We were able to skip the registration line & go straight to the t-​shirt booth to switch packets. Much easier than expected! We had plenty of time afterwards to gear up, eat a light breakfast & take photos.
Then everyone started arriving! So much fun to see the masses in their white outfits & crazy accessories! There was a Zumba class on the stage beforehand to get us warmed up & the announcer got everyone excited. When it was race time, we all made one long Conga line & mosied on over to the start line. Music was blasting, the Color Runicorn was there dancing & freebies were being flung from the podiums above. My boyfriend caught me a pink Color Run bracelet. They sent us off in waves with a 10 second countdown.
Finally, we were off! This race is really above fun & good company as there is no timer and no pacing requirements. Every 1K there is a huge arch introducing a different color, music is pumping through speakers and volunteers in that color of shirts are there to cheer you on & douse you with colored cornstarch. The stations just flew by– it was SO MUCH FUN!!! People stop a lot during the race at the different stations to get splashed even more or to take pictures– a very casual race which was fine by me as a first timer! The blue section was the most fun as they had huge tubs out of the blue cornstarch to refill their squirt bottles, but runners were able to reach in a grab handfuls to fling around. My boyfriend ended up with a blue head & cornstarch in his ears, LOL. :)
The finish line was energetic & the after party was amazing! There were «color throws» every 10min or so near the stage where the DJ dance party was. Each runner got a packet of color & they were constantly throwing out more color packets to the crowd. The announcer then would countdown & timed to the music, everyone would throw their colored powder in the air & it looked like shooting color rockets going up in the air from afar. In the midst you were caught in a cloud of color. Sometimes the color mist was so thick I couldn’t see for a good couple minutes! Color was everywhere– in my hair, on my clothes, in my eyes, and up my nose! (I blew my nose & hocked bright blue loogies for hours after the event… TMI?) Near the end my eyes started to itch & my sinuses burned from taking in so much color powder, but it was worth it! We had so much fun at the dance party we missed the vendor booths, which included the SJ Sharks! They were giving away free Sharks Territory stickers. :(Sorry to miss that.
Some industrial air blowers, baby wipes, a long shower, 10 shampoos, & some OxyClean later… we were clean again! & ready for next year!!!