There was a splash of color in the air — and in people’s hair, faces and all over their bodies.
Thousands of revelers showed up to Huntington State Beach on Saturday, March 19, for an unusual race along the beach, The Color Run.
Runners get doused with color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Christian Wood, left, and his father, Lance Wood of Irvine show off their color after they finished The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Young runners pose for a photo near the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A runner gets a faceful of color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners wear tutus as they leave the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman smiles as she gets doused with color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners leave the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A runner wears a colorful tutu just prior to the start of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young runner gets special treatment as he gets covered with color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A runner makes her way through clouds of color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jennifer Edwards, left, of Los Angeles and Christine Wong of Monrovia stand near the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners leave the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners wear matching hair bands as they leave the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A runner makes her way through clouds of color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A runner makes her way through clouds of color during The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners leave the start line at the beginning of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wearing tutus a group of friends make their way to the start line of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Foam flies through the air in the Cloud Zone as a runner takes a selfie at the finish of The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Runners pose for a group photo after they finished The Color Run at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Saturday, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“It’s just different than your typically run,” event director Chad Evans said. “It’s a family friendly event where people can come out and spend time with their friends and family and not worry about that competitive nature traditional runs have.”
This was the run’s ninth year in Huntington Beach.
At every kilometer, runners were hit with a cloud of color and “foam zones” were set up where canons shot out the suds.
Then, at the after party, participants gathered for a color throwing party, tossing the vibrant powders the air.
“It makes this huge, beautifully colored cloud,” Evans said.
The color powder used is non-toxic, made with a combination of cornstarch, baking soda and dyes. Some of the runners wore glasses or goggles to get through the clouds of color, and face masks are given to participants who don’t want to breathe in the colored mix.
For restaurant owner Alicia Cox, who owns the beach concession Huntington Beach House directly on the race’s route, it was a great way to welcome the spring season. She had a DJ spinning music for runners who were ready to continue the festivities through the afternoon.
“It’s really awesome to see these events happening again,” she said. “It’s so invigorating after having two dormant years, to now see people booking events and coming back full swing.
“The weather has been fabulous,” she said, “we feel so thankful to have the beach come back to life.”
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