Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Borunda | Participants stand in the remaining color powder used during the Color Me GTMO 5K on...... read more read more
Subscribe
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The color me GTMO 5K dyed our streets as more than 700 service members and civilians ran through misters and clouds of powdered color, Saturday, and ended up looking like Dr. Seuss characters.
Color runs, now very popular in western culture. The run is derived from Holi, a traditional Hindu spring festival that includes the spraying of colors, dancing and togetherness through love. This festival has been adopted by many groups outside of Hinduism, including the combination of fun runs like the one here at GTMO.
Jim Holbert, the sports coordinator for the MWR here, said, “Color runs are huge back in the states. It’s something that you don’t necessarily have to be into running to do. It gives you a little taste of back home.”
Sgt. Hoyle Shaw, one of the Color Run participants, used the opportunity to build his team cohesion and have fun doing so.
“My favorite part was running with my Soldiers, seeing them pass me and finish ahead of me was great – made my heart happy,” Shaw said. “They showed me their motivation and willingness to finish the mission.”
Shaw came ready to run and to have fun. He sported running shoes, running shorts and a non restrictive shirt all in preparation for the run. The fake beard and beanie, well that was in preparation for the fun.
“This was amazing. I’ve done 5k’s here and in Afghanistan, and I have to say this is the best one I’ve done,” Shaw said. “They are really involved and really let you know that they care, and it’s been amazing.”
The participants admired each other’s outfits, which ranged from tutus, Hawaiian lays, crazy hats and a little pre-race color painting on shirts and skin.
Once the race began, it was a barrage of color and misters soaking and staining the participants, sometimes leaving color stations with one half of their face one color and the other a different color.
“It was a lot larger group than I thought it was going to be, but seeing this amount of participation out here … made it seem like a fun amazing scenic route,” Shaw said.
As for his color of choice well by the end it was hard to distinguish where one color began and the other ended.
“I don’t know how many colors I have on me, but blue was my favorite closely followed by pink,” Shaw said.
All along the route you could hear the support from one runner to the other. The high fives being exchanged and the sense that somehow a 5k with each other brought them all closer in one way or another.
“All I can think of during this run was, America, Jesus and freedom and that’s how we’re going to do it,” Shaw said.
The MWR has tentatively set the next color run sometime in the fall and hopes to see you all back looking for a little color in your lives.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2015 10:09 |
| Story ID: | 160329 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Color Me GTMO, by SFC Adrian Borunda, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT