Teen Kaleidoscope Run Frequently Asked Questions

How far do we have to run or walk?
The course is approximately 2.5km. The entire course is on park property and walking paths. You will not be walking or running on any roads.

Do I need to be a great runner?
Nope! There are plenty of other great events out there to test speed and performance. The Kaleidoscope Run is all about a color crazy day with friends. If you don’t want to run, don’t worry, there will be plenty of people walking. We won’t be timing the race so no pressure!

What is the color made of?
The color powder we use is custom manufactured and produced right here in the United States. It is made from food grade quality cornstarch. It is non-toxic, is 100% safe, and also biodegradable. As with any substance, you will want to keep it out of your eyes and lungs. If you are overly sensitive, you may want to wear glasses or goggles for your eyes and use a bandana or dust mask for your mouth.

How does the color powder affect runner vision or breathing?
The color powder used at The Color Run event is food grade cornstarch and is 100% natural.  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.

What should I wear?
You can wear whatever you want but we suggest white clothing because it shows up the color the best! You can purchase your very own Kaleidoscope Run t-shirt for only $4. T-shirts will be distributed at the event on June 17.

Can I wear costumes?
Heck Yes! We love costumes! The whiter the better!

Will the color stain my clothes, shoes, or makeup?
If you want a lot of color to hit your shirt, plan to run or walk closer to the color throwers. If you want only a little bit of color, run or walk in the farthest lane from the throwers. The color does mostly wash out after the event, but some of it can stain. As with anything, the sooner you wash it the better. We suggest wearing items that you wouldn't mind getting the color on. If you would like to preserve the color in your running shirt, spray it with vinegar and iron it.  If you wash your shirt….the color will eventually come out.  Check out the cleaning tips link below for more information.

Will the color get in my car? What about my camera/cell phone?
Bring a towel or some plastic bags along, and you’ll be just fine. However, if you do get some in your vehicle, it can be dusted away or vacuumed easily. If you are carrying a camera or cell phone, we recommend that you put it in a plastic, re-sealable bag.

Can I run with my dog?
For the safety of our runners and animal friends, we do not allow animals at the Kaleidoscope Run.

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.

Do you have “cleaning stations” at the finish after party?
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. 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.

Can spectators attend the post-race Finish Festival?
Absolutely! You may want to warn them though… they won’t be coming out of The Kaleidoscope Run clean!

I still have questions. Who should I contact?
Please email Julie Ludemann at jludemann@ci.tualatin.or.us.

CLEANING TIPS!

Hair
If you have light colored or highlighted hair, you may want to oil your hair before the race. This will help keep the color from sticking. Coconut oil or olive oil work best but a good leave-in conditioner will usually do the trick as well. Every head of hair is different and will react differently to the color, especially highlighted or colored hair. The pink and blue specifically have been known to stain blondes for a few days. Plan accordingly. If you need to make sure your hair is color free hours after the event, wear your hair in a ponytail and consider sporting a bandana! You can use it to cover your hair, cover your mouth in the color zones, or even to help wash off at the end of the race! However you choose to use it, a bandana or scarf is pretty useful.

Cleaning your hair:  Dust any loose powder out of your hair and brush through your hair vigorously. Rinse out the oil/conditioner you wisely applied before the race with COLD water. Now wash your hair as you normally would. It is not uncommon for hints of some of the color, pink and purple particularly, to stick around for a few washes. Wear it like a badge of honor. Or wear a hat. If your hair is still clinging on to the color, we’ve heard that a mixture of baking soda and blue Dawn dish soap can work wonders!

Eyes
We suggest some form of eyewear. Some people wear sunglasses or swim goggles. Have some fun with it and try to avoid getting a lot of powder in your eyes.

Clothing
Though the color will eventually wash out of just about everything, you may not want to bring or wear items that you don’t want to get color all over. The color is probably not coming all the way out of your white cotton shirt. You should be proud of that!! Remove all excess powder before adding water. Wash your Kaleidoscope run gear separately, with COLD water. Shout will work wonders on your running equipment.

What if I want my white shirt to stay colorful after the run?
Spray your shirt with vinegar and then iron it to help the color last longer.