It may be too late to sign yourself up (places were sold out in minutes) but that does mean you can’t still enjoy the fun of the world-famous Color Run, coming to Paris on April 19!
Never heard of the Color Run?
Also known as “The Happiest 5k on the Planet”, the Color Run is a running event (who’d have guessed?) that has a unique side to it… color!
Everyone starts off wearing an official white Color Run t-shirt. Every kilometer of the race, runners are showered in powdered paint, a different color for every stage meaning that, by the end, participants are left in glorious technicolor from head to toe. Don’t worry, the paint is harmless, and is easily washed off under a good shower (speaking from personal experience!) For those who have signed up, there’s also a concert at the end and free powdered paint to throw over fellow runners.
Be part of the fun in Paris!
While you may not get to join the run itself, watching the event and following the runners on foot is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.
This year, the Color Run in Paris kicks off at the Hôtel de Ville from between 9h and 12.30 when participants are handed out their t-shirts and free goody bag. They then walk down to the riverbank on the Voie Georges Pompidou (no, it’s not next to the Pompidou Center) and set off in groups spaced a few minutes apart to avoid congestion – there a LOT of runners!
From the start, they then run/walk/talk their way to the Pont Neuf where they get their first color shower – yellow – right in front of the Jardin des Tuileries.
Then it’s up and back round to the Pont Royale, a quick trip into the artsy latin quarter, and back towards the river and the Musée d’Orsay for…. a blue bath! The route then follows the river past the Assemblée Nationale and to Les Invalides where, this time, they get doused in green. Time for a pause here, perhaps even a beer or glass of water at one of the pop-up bars on the banks, before heading towards the Eiffel Tower and the Pont de l’Alma for the penultimate paint shower of pink.
The race finishes at the Pont d’léna, opposite the Trocadero Gardens, where runners are given their own small bags of powder paint, which usually end up thrown in the air and all over their co-runners!
By following the Color Run around the city, you’ll inadvertently get an excellent tour of some of the city’s major monuments. It’s a great way to get kids to see the sights without even realizing! Of course, if you’d like a little more accompaniment to your sightseeing – just ask us, and we can arrange a walking, bicycle or even Segway tour!
