Intramural sports ended their semester with a blast as they held the color run on Wednesday, Nov. 19, around the Heritage Campus. The event was packed with color, music, pictures, snacks, medals, and free shirts, as well as some controversy.
The two-lap adventure traveled around General Academic buildings A and B with a stretch along the music building before ending back where they began, in front of the White Library. Along the way there were a handful of volunteers at color stations where students would be blasted with different colored dyes if they wanted; others were cheered on as they passed by.
“One of my friends was running in the color run so I wanted to support them,” said volunteer Veda de La Garza who had fun coloring students at one of the dye stations. Other students like Precious Haddison volunteered for the coloring station to be involved on campus and have an opportunity to watch the fun event.
Before the run, students were given time to sign in and receive a number to wear as well as dyes to color each other and take pictures with their friends. Intramural Director Carla Gamez-Vela met students at the starting line, squirting more dye into the crowd before blasting confetti into the air for the starting signal.
Everyone ran or walked at their own pace, whether it was to push themselves to be at their best or to hang around with friends and relieve stress from the current semester. For Revel Wicks, it was a chance to keep himself in shape and have fun on campus. “I enjoy participating in running events around the community, so this is a great way for me to get out and have fun while getting to stay active with something on campus,” Wicks said after finishing the color run.
Wicks flexed his long-distance running ability as he bolted out of the gate and remained the leader until the end as he was the first student to finish. He and others hung around afterwards to cheer on the remaining students and take some more pictures of the final colorful mess that was made.
As students finished, they were greeted with music as well as a medal, T-shirt, and a choice of snacks being handed out by volunteer Anna Gonzales. Unfortunately, not everyone was happy and celebrating at the finish line of the color run though.
Math Professor Richard Rupp came outside toward the end of the color run to speak with Gamez-Vela about the noise from music and cheering being disruptive. Professor Rupp claimed that his students were upstairs in one of the General Academic buildings taking a midterm worth 20% of their grade even though it is only two weeks away from finals week.
Gamez-Vela apologized and informed him that the date and time for the color run had been posted since the beginning of the semester in case anyone needed to schedule around the event. She also explained that it’s important and necessary to give students a fun and enjoyable outlet where they can be active and relieve stress that builds up throughout the semester and their personal lives.
Intramural Sports respected the request and turned down the music, but the fun went on for students who blasted their friends with leftover dyes and took group pictures in front of decorated areas to forever have a glimpse into one of their most memorable days on campus during their time at Del Mar College.
