YAKIMA, Wash.-Runners and walkers took the Sozo Sports Complex for the sixth edition of the Dye Hard 5K with color and foam zones for added fun.
The nearly three-mile track featured seven color blasts and four foam zones for runners to keep the energy up.
Before the race started, the crowd was already spraying themselves and their friends with the color, with the anticipation growing.
“I’m feeling very excited,” said Angela Orozco with her son, Darrion. “This is my second race so I’m just looking forward to it and very excited to do it with my son.”
The non-toxic, washable color powder made its way to everyone, even those not in the 5K.
“It’s basically colored corn starch so it will find its way in everywhere,” says Yakima Valley Sports Commission Director of Development Rich Austin. “It’ll be in your ears. It could be in your hair; it could be on your clothes.”
Austin says there has been record attendance at the run for the past two years, with close to 750 people who signed up for 2024’s event.
‘That’s a really big hit,” says Austin. “It’s just a one of the signature events of the Yakima Valley Sports Commission, which helps us with our mission to increase the economy of the Yakima Valley through hosting sporting events.”
Organizers of the event work to improve the event every year. This year, they added more color and foam zones on the track. The family friendly event had everyone from parents running with their children, to adults planning to celebrate at the after party.
“We just want to make it a fun event where they come and have a good time,” says Austin. “Everybody gets out, you get active, it kind of kicks off the summer for us a little bit.”
