The Color Run
On November 3rd 2013, there was the annual Color Run in the CIty of Perth. The Color Run, or also known as "The Happiest 5k on the Planet" is an event to promote healthiness and happiness. It is an un-timed run of 5 kilometers in with color runner are doused in color at every kilometer.
I wasn't able to run, but that didn't keep me from participating in the event so I joined the volunteer team. There were about 16,000 people running the event and therefore the help of the volunteers was very much appreciated. Jobs included checking participants in, handing out water bottles and throwing colors at the infamous color zones and many more.
Initially, a group of us IB students group in Year 11 had panned to go as a group and volunteer as a group, but when we got there at 7:45 am, we were all split up and had to join a group of complete strangers. I was feeling quite scared, but the people were all very nice and openminded, so very quickly I got to know many new people. By this, I have already met my goal of working collaboratively with others especially considering the task we were put up to do. Every color runner that was participating had to come prepared by wearing a white shirt so that it would be multicolored at the end of the race. The volunteers however were provided with brightly colored shirts. On top of that, my group (we were called the Magic-Makers) was given the task of getting people exited to begin the race, so we had to completely cover ourselves with colored powder until you could barely see our skin! Next we had to join the white-dressed crowd of 16,000 people and participate in the energizing Zumba warm up. This was completely out of my comfort zone but I figured that all the other volunteers looked quite ridiculous as well so it didn't bother me that much at all. I therefore undertook a new challenge and definitely overcame a few of my fears.
Although we had to be in the city on a Sunday at 7:45am and we had to stay for clean up until about 1:30pm, it was definitely a very positive experience to look back upon. I especially enjoyed the happy vibe that was present amongst both the runners and the volunteers. I don't think I even saw anyone who wasn't smiling that day and as a volunteer, knowing you were part of making this event possible, it is really a rewarding feeling. I had such a good time and hope to be actually running it next year.
I wasn't able to run, but that didn't keep me from participating in the event so I joined the volunteer team. There were about 16,000 people running the event and therefore the help of the volunteers was very much appreciated. Jobs included checking participants in, handing out water bottles and throwing colors at the infamous color zones and many more.
Initially, a group of us IB students group in Year 11 had panned to go as a group and volunteer as a group, but when we got there at 7:45 am, we were all split up and had to join a group of complete strangers. I was feeling quite scared, but the people were all very nice and openminded, so very quickly I got to know many new people. By this, I have already met my goal of working collaboratively with others especially considering the task we were put up to do. Every color runner that was participating had to come prepared by wearing a white shirt so that it would be multicolored at the end of the race. The volunteers however were provided with brightly colored shirts. On top of that, my group (we were called the Magic-Makers) was given the task of getting people exited to begin the race, so we had to completely cover ourselves with colored powder until you could barely see our skin! Next we had to join the white-dressed crowd of 16,000 people and participate in the energizing Zumba warm up. This was completely out of my comfort zone but I figured that all the other volunteers looked quite ridiculous as well so it didn't bother me that much at all. I therefore undertook a new challenge and definitely overcame a few of my fears.
Although we had to be in the city on a Sunday at 7:45am and we had to stay for clean up until about 1:30pm, it was definitely a very positive experience to look back upon. I especially enjoyed the happy vibe that was present amongst both the runners and the volunteers. I don't think I even saw anyone who wasn't smiling that day and as a volunteer, knowing you were part of making this event possible, it is really a rewarding feeling. I had such a good time and hope to be actually running it next year.
Although we had to be in the city on a Sunday at 7:45am and we had to stay for clean up until about 1:30pm, it was definitely a very positive experience to look back upon. I especially enjoyed the happy vibe that was present amongst both the runners and the volunteers. I don't think I even saw anyone who wasn't smiling that day and as a volunteer, knowing you were part of making this event possible, it is really a rewarding feeling. I had such a good time and hope to be actually running it next year.
Learning Outcomes:
You have undertaken new challenges.
Doing Zumba in front of thousands of people really was out of my comfort zone but it was a challenge I was willing to take in order to make the event successful and to make people motivated and excited for the run.
Doing Zumba in front of thousands of people really was out of my comfort zone but it was a challenge I was willing to take in order to make the event successful and to make people motivated and excited for the run.
Evidence of this Action activity is shown in the e-mail sent to me below.