Review of Color Me Rad 5K NYC/NJ MetLife Stadium

Ever since they've been popping up everywhere, I have wanted to do a "color" run.  Now, some people don't know what this is.  Basically, you run (or walk) and untimed 5K (which is 3.1 miles) and get hit with colors in a powder or liquid form throughout the course.  You wear white, get colorful, listen to music, and have a generally great time.  At least, that is what EVERY photo I have ever seen had led me to believe.  So, when I saw the Groupon for the Color Me Rad run at MetLife Stadium, I couldn't pass it up.  Of course, I bought it, then found out that it was not IN the stadium at all - just the parking lot.  Okay, I figured it wouldn't be too bad, but I couldn't get anyone to sign up with me.  So I figured, I'll just bring my son in the jogging stroller and we will have a great time.  At the last minute, I convinced my "significant other" to join me and our son for the race.  Make it a family affair, you know.  So I registered him at packet pickup, and was assured by the girl at the desk that it was going to be a blast -- more like a party than anything else.  Good.  I was so pumped.

And even though we stayed up too late and had a few too many brews, we got up (kinda) on time and headed to the stadium. And there, I was positively thrilled to find out that parking was $10.  You know, cause I didn't already spend $80 on our registrations.  How nice.  

We got out of the car, and all I heard was LOUD THUMPING.  Song was unrecognizable, but it was incredibly loud in the parking lot.  We unfolded the jogging stroller, inserted child, and headed for the Start line.  It was not until we were really really close to the start that we realized there was a massive line.   Ah yes, they start in waves every 5 minutes or so.  Okay, so I understood this, but I was not happy.  And this is supposed to be a really fun time, right?  So we walked and walked and walked, all the way back to the end of the line.  Something like 25 minutes later we were up to the actual start line.  Music is still too loud, but at least it's not 95 degrees.  We are waiting at the start line, and a man with purple color bombs hits my child with color dust.  Like, almost maliciously. My son is crying.  Now I am certain this will be a great time.  

And we're off.  I finally get a good look at the "course".  The parking lot is full of cones, designating the running path.  It snakes around a few times, then we have a color station.  Literally 20 steps around the first turn I couldn't hear the music anymore.  When we get to the color station, people are rolling in the color powder that is on the ground.  Makes it easy to maneuver with the stroller.  Someone pegs my kid with color again.  Crying resumes.  Now, can I tell you that my kid is not a big crier.  He is not super-sensitive and would have had a great time if the color was not thrown directly IN HIS FACE.  What kind of person throws color dust into a kids face like that??  Meanwhile, my shirt is still practically white.  Maybe if I leave now I can return it to Target and get my $6.99 back?

We continue along.  This course literally just goes back and forth around the parking lot.  I love how they call it NYC/NJ MetLife Stadium, yet we are quite far from NYC, and we are in the stadium parking lot.  They should have called it "big parking lot in jersey".  Would have been more accurate.  Next color station is liquid.  It appears to be water, but it is yellow.  Yellow water.  I cannot express my distaste for choice of this combination.  Couldn't be purple?  Or blue?  Since my child has stopped crying, I try to avoid the color station for fear that he will get sprayed in the face.  There is no way to get around this one.  Kid gets sprayed.  The volunteer at the station really tried to get it in the stroller.  I get hit with a tiny bit on the right sleeve.  Thanks.  Significant other is really not happy at this point.  I'm so glad I convinced him to come with us.   

The rest of the course was more of the same, although only *I* went through the color stations from that point forward.  It was fun, but there were certainly not enough volunteers nor enough color bombs.  I had to completely stop in the color station and ASK to be hit with color.  I stood there looking dopey for a minute before that, and realized that these volunteers must be tired out or something.  I picked up some color dust from the ground.  Guy at color station pelts me in the 5K race bib with an unopened color bomb, which does not explode.  It was like getting hit with a tiny bean bag for no reason.  

Now it probably sounds like we had a really crappy time, but we did actually have fun.  That's the thing, we would have had fun walking around the parking lot at MetLife whether there was a Color Me Rad 5K or not.  If you don't believe me, then you have no idea how many times we have gone to the Meadowlands flea market.

At this point in the "race" there is literally no music.  I am very happy that my jogging stroller has built-in speakers.  I connected my iPhone and played songs from the Lorax for the boy.  Seemed fitting, since the colors were Seuss-ish.  

So the ONE live band that was there was in the far corner of the course, right by the water point.  I guess they figured there wouldn't be enough volunteers, cause the water point was just cases of tiny bottles of Poland Spring on a table, followed by a littering of tiny bottles all over the ground.  They are not like paper cups in regular races, folks.  They are a serious trip hazard.  Though, not as bad of a trip hazard as the large curbs in the middle of the course.  At least those were clearly marked.  

Anyhow, I was really looking forward to the party at the finish line.  However, right before the finish, where we got our one color bomb, the volunteers were being very strict about these packs.  You had absolutely no choice for your color preference, and if you slowed down they yelled at you.  Um, I thought this was supposed to be fun?  If I wanted to be yelled at, I would have stayed in the Army.  Regardless, the party at the finish line did not seem as fun as it did from far away.  So, we had our own little color bomb fight.  Where, I might add, my son had a blast.  Turns out he didn't have an aversion to the color powder, just to having it thrown in his face by a stranger.  Well, we were having a great time and strangers seemed to get a kick out of it cause I saw a few snap pictures of my son pelting me with a color bomb.  

So, that was the narrative version.  Here's my list of gripes:

1. $10 parking was ridiculous

2. T-shirt sizes ran extremely small

3. The course was basically just running around cones in a parking lot.  Like Driver's Ed, but on foot.

4. The course was too short. (At least a quarter mile shy of 3.1 miles)

5. Music was too loud in some places, but inaudible for 70% of the course.

6. Apparently NYC residents who rely on public transportation were left high and dry, and had to resort to walking down the highway to catch a bus that was not full.(Race planners did not coordinate with public transportation).

7. Not enough color stations/volunteers.

And, to be fair, here's my list of compliments:

1. The store.  Color Me Rad "kids pack" for $15 included a t-shirt, stickers, bracelet, and sunglasses.

2. Even though it was expensive, there was ample parking and no wait to get in to park.

3. There were plenty of port-a-potties.

4. The friendliness of the staff at packet pickup and at the race. (I was able to exchange my t-shirt for a different size with no problem).

5. They had photographers along the course. 

6. Liquid-color stations really made a difference.  Powder didn't always stick, but the liquid was vibrant and definitely stuck.  

Overall, I'd say they have a TON of room for improvement.  But, if they don't make any logistical changes they certainly won't be seeing me next year!  I'd rather save my money and do a Tough Mudder or another Half Marathon.