YARD's inaugural Color Run offers fun for all ages

Yelm residents can run in style during Youth Athletics Recreation Development’s (YARD) inaugural Color Fun Run at Yelm City Park on Saturday, June 15.

YARD is partnering with the City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation Department to host the event, which will begin at 8 a.m. with a swag bag pick-up where participants can get white T-shirts and other goodies.

Racers ages 2 to 4 will compete at 9 a.m., ages 5 to 13 race at 9:30 a.m., and ages 14 and up will begin their race at 10 a.m. The toddler race is one lap, while the rest will run four laps — one mile — within the park. Participants will have colored powder in mist bottles sprayed at them each lap, and the most colorful racer will receive a prize.

YARD co-owner Michelle Stephan said 65 people have registered, as of Monday, June 3, and registration is still open for races. Participants can also register on the day of the event, but they would have to bring their own white T-shirt.

Stephan added that racers can look forward to a day of fun at the Color Fun Run, which was made possible by the support of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“The City of Yelm reached out to us because they want to bring more children’s activities and community events, and so we decided that we would operate it but they would let us use the park,” Stephan said. “We are donating some of the proceeds back to them to help with other community events. It’s a fun day to get covered in a colored mess. We’re going to have music and bubbles and make it as fun and community-oriented as possible.”

Through its partnership with the City of Yelm, YARD is also considering organizing a hot cocoa run in the winter or a trick-or-treat event in the fall. Stephan hopes that the collaboration continues to bring family-oriented activities to the community.

“YARD’s mission is to really help youth with athletics and recreation development, which is what YARD stands for. It’s a fun way to get kids outside and active,” she said. “We would love it if other youth organizations came in and we can help each other and help get information out there about all the different things that are available for the youth community.”

To register for the Color Fun Run, visit https://tinyurl.com/6wcbk6c9.