DOHA: Cheers and giggles over being painted during a run for a cause marked the morning in Doha yesterday.
Thousands streamed up for The Colour Run, a 5km colour powder race which debuted in Doha, at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
“As we walked towards QNCC, others dressed in all white flooded the streets. We could feel the ground shake with the large turnout and high-energy music,” said Sulaiti Ahmed, a participant.
“And then a man at the microphone yelled, ‘GO!’ We blasted off running. By the time we reached the finish line, our white shirts and bodies were coated with rainbow colours from the wild downpour of red, yellow, turquoise, magenta, purple and orange powder on us.”
The race, organised in cooperation with ‘Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First’, the health campaign run by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) and ‘Happiest 5k on the Planet’ saw participants of all ages and abilities enjoy a unique way to stay healthy and have fun along the way.
Following a warm-up from Reebok’s internationally famed ‘Les Mills’ Master Trainers, runners in pristine white were led across the starting line by a colour-splattered Nissan X-Trail before running, walking and dancing their way around the 5k extravaganza.
Over 180 volunteers showered coloured powder on participants at 1km intervals. After completing the distance, runners made their way to the Finish Festival where celebrations continued with massive colour throws, stage performances and live music.
Participants included Kate Inwood who, at the start line of ‘Happiest 5k on the Planet’, said she was using the opportunity to speed up her recovery from heart problems. “The reason I chose the run was because it was fun! I’m recovering from heart problems and needed to pay more attention to my health and this was the perfect start. The run is open to everyone and the fact that it’s an untimed race meant there was no pressure! This is my first 5k race and its focus on fun makes it a great way to stay healthy.”
Becoming popular since its launch in January 2012, the event has become the largest series in the US, gaining traction around the world with over 100 events and one million participants in 2013. “It is fantastic to see so many people take part in the event. This is the first of its kind in Doha and response has been overwhelming. Everyone had such a great time while getting active and healthy and for ‘Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First’ that is what the event is all about – making a healthy lifestyle fun and accessible,” said Nesreen M Al Rifai, Chief Communications Officer, WCMC-Q.
The event was presented in association with Supreme Council of Health and the campaign’s partners Qatar Foundation, Supreme Education Council, Qatar Petroleum, Occidental Petroleum Qatar, ExxonMobil and Qatar Olympic Committee. The five-year educational health campaign targets all age with a focus on young people in the age group 10-25 to make healthy lifestyle choices. “I’ve done a few runs before but this was unlike anything I’ve done! I ran with my mom, sister and cousins and we all had so much fun. I usually get bored on runs but I had such a good time throughout the whole event. I can’t wait to do it again,” said Aya Amer, 11, at the Finish Festival.
In keeping with the focus on the community, $1 from every entry went to Educate A Child (EAC). Launched in November 2012 by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, EAC is a global programme of Education Above All (EAA) that aims to reduce the number of children worldwide who are denied their right to quality primary education. The Peninsula
