This Sunday in London, an American running phenomenon will hit the UK for the first time – and looks set to leave a mark. The Color Run™ series, founded in 2011 by Utah resident Travis Snyder, who currently lives in Los Angeles, is a 5k with a twist: runners start in white clothing, and at each kilometre get caked in brightly coloured powders (made from 100% eco-friendly and natural food-grade corn starch) thrown by volunteers.

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Snyder, 35, previously organised rock climbing events and triathlons but says it was having a child that inspired him to conceive an event combining fitness and pleasure. His diverse influences included everything from Disneyland’s fountain shows to American college paint parties and, of course, vibrant religious festivals such as Holi.

It may sound niche, but 600,000 people have already taken part in Snyder’s fitness festivals across the world, from Sydney to Rio de Janeiro, becoming America’s biggest 5k along the way. The first, held in Arizona in 2012, reached its full capacity of 6,000 runners after word got round virally – massively exceeding expectations. Around 15,000 will take part in the sold-out event around Wembley this weekend.

What does Snyder think is its appeal? “I think sometimes people get tired of being so competitive,” he says. “In a running event, the person next to you is the tool that you are going to compare yourself to; whether or not you run faster than them or they run faster than you. The Color Run still has running in its basis: people still get to be out and be active. But instead of it being an exclusive experience, it’s an inclusive experience, where the people next to you are part of that.”

The events attract a wide demographic, including families and children, along with a higher proportion of women than most runs. For many, it is their first race and furthest distance. Synder’s eight-year-old son has taken part in 20 of the races. “It’s not a big deal because he doesn’t think of it as 5k – he is just running and having fun.”

In line with this theme of participation rather than competition, there are no accolades for coming first. If runners want to get a PB, they will have to track it themselves, as it is not officially timed. And, needless to say, the finish line is one big party – before the clean up begins.

Is this the sort of event that should be championed for inspiring the non-active to get involved, or is it a cringe-inducing novelty race too far? If you’ve already taken part in a Color Run, what was it like?

Color Run UK (supported by Dulux – who else?) takes place at Wembley 14 July (sold out); Manchester 21 July; Belfast 24 August; Brighton 14 September. For more information visit: thecolorrun.co.uk

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