Color Fun Run brightens campus

Students, community members and volunteers flooded campus this Saturday for the Inaugural Color Fun Run put on by NIC’s marketing department. It was a 5k race that weaved around campus as an end to the Week of Welcome 2025. Participants were showered with different colored powder as they ran, jogged, or walked to the finish line.

The community event was the first of its kind at NIC and brought in a variety of runners. Students like Mallorie Flynn who’s young daughters came to cheer her on said that she invited non-student friends to join her in the race and that they “all had a good time.”

Runners were given maps, and signs along the path pointed them in the right direction as they made their way on the roughly three-mile race. Volunteers with water cups or handfuls of chalk were waiting at stations strategically placed along the route. 

“The stations were really evenly spread out. Whoever organized it did a great job. We’d definitely do it again,” said Alec Smith, a previous Computer Science student at NIC, “it was an incredible time.”

The Color Fun Run wasn’t your typical race, as the name points out, the main objective was for participants to have a good time. Amongst the crowds of all ages, sizes and speeds, there were still athletes to be found.

“My goal for the run was to reach the 10 minutes per mile mark, and I did it. I think I was just under at 9:55.” Said student Amanda Taitano who participated with a group of friends.

The “chalk” or color powder being thrown at the runners was made from corn starch and is listed as biodegradable, and non-damaging to the environment. Being made from food and cosmetic standard ingredients, it wasn’t harmful if small amounts were accidently consumed, but it was advised not breath in the powder if possible.

Kootenai County Fire Department had a hose shooting a fountain of water from high in the air so runners could both cool off and wash off if they desired. There was also refreshment from food trucks and catering provided by Elior Dining Services, (previously known as Aladin, they have a contract for NIC’s cafeteria and events.) Music played to added to the atmosphere, and a live DJ commentated as runners funneled through to the finish line.