Flavor Run 5K adds tasty experience to color run

Color runs, in which 5K participants are splattered with harmless colored powders and paints by race volunteers, are becoming commonplace in Birmingham and around the country. But the Flavor Run 5K, which began in 2013 in Tampa, Florida, takes the concept a step further, with fruit-flavored powders the runners can taste.

The Flavor Run 5K Birmingham, which benefits children’s charities, is scheduled to return to Hoover for its second year Oct. 22. The event will take place at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium at 10 a.m.

The event offers what the Flavor Run website calls “made in the USA fruit-flavored powder, local vendors and 100 percent quality fun.” The flavors of the paint, made with cornstarch, are strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, banana, grape and orange.

The Flavor Run events, which are held nationally, also feature a post-run festival with fruit, healthy vendors, live entertainment and children's activities, according to the website. 

The Flavor Run is being held in about 20 U.S. cities this year, including Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Dallas and Phoenix.

The Flavor Run was started by John McMahan, a running and fitness advocate who also founded Running for Brews, which stages 5Ks in which participants enjoy craft brews after their runs.

McMahan got the idea for the Flavor Run after participating in a color run in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2012, according to tampabay.com. “It was so fun, and I thought it would be great if the cornstarch tasted good too,” he said. He then worked with a food lab to develop a product that would wash off easily but have flavor and aroma.

Tickets for the Flavor Run in Birmingham range from $25-$60. Children ages six and under can run or walk free.

Due to quality control and venue size, organizers limit the number of tickets sold, so prospective attendees are urged to register early.

At our press time, the local charities to be benefited by the event had not yet been determined, according to one of the event websites.

For more about the Flavor Run, go to flavorrun.com.

For tickets and information, go to flavorrunbirmingham.eventbrite.com.

There is also a Facebook event page at Flavor Run Birmingham.