You may have noticed some colorful runners through downtown a few weeks ago.

You witnessed the result of a new running fad called COLOR RUNS. I want to spread the love about both organizations (The Color Run hosted the event in Seattle on May 13) but CMY5K is hosting another run 5,000-runner event on August 12, 2012 in Magnuson Park.

There’s not much more to say about it. Where white, run a 5K and get coated with (non-harmful) clouds of colorful powdery goodness. Through each color zone, you’ll get covered in a different color:

• 1K-cyan
• 2K-magenta
• 3K-yellow
• 4K-green
• 5K-a combination of all colors

According to the website, “CMY5K  is the running equivalent of Dorothy’s house landing on the Wicked Witch. Waves of virginal white runners and walkers will start every 3-5 minutes. Then, at each kilometer, CMY5K staff and volunteers will powder participants in Color Splash Zones.” Basically you end up looking like this:

Photo courtesy of CMY5K

REGISTER HERE NOW BEFORE IT SELLS OUT!

I’ve been on a serious health kick lately. Maybe it’s the weather or just a desire to feel good, but I’ve been all about it. That said, one of my favorite things to do is offset a good night of drinking by working out beforehand! Before you stop reading, I’m not suggesting you go lift weights with the other buff dudes…

I’m suggesting you kick off your Cinco de Mayo festivities off right by running/walking in the Fiesta 5k Ole! Isn’t that fun to say? If you need a little more motivation, there is a beer garden, concert and taco truck challenge awaiting you at the end. The race takes place at Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park and begins at 9:30am. Registraton Proceeds benefit the Hope Heart Institute.

So get out, get healthy and have a margarita for me!!

Oh, and stay tuned for next week’s Brewery of the Month review of Hilliard’s in Ballard!

I am so philanthropic it hurts. Literally. Two weeks ago my legs hurt from snowboarding for the American Cancer Society. Last weekend I hurt my liver drinking for multiple sclerosis. And this weekend, and I am going to hurt my legs, liver and lungs running for the children. Yes, Saturday is the annual St. Patty’s Day Dash benefiting a variety of Northwest children’s charities. In 2011, the event contributed over $200,000 to its non-profit partners. This year, funds will be directed to Camp Fire USA Puget Sound Council, Seattle Children’s Autism Center, Rise n’ Shine, and the Healing Center.

Here is my favorite description of the event from its website:

“The F5 St. Patrick’s Day Dash is a family event with something for everyone. There are young athletes racing to be the first across the Finish Line, and the middle-age, former jocks racing to be the first in the beer garden… You’ll see a diverse group of participants. Don’t be surprised if you’re passed by a human pot of gold, a 6ft 3in leprechaun, a 4-pack of Guinness cans or a grown man in a tutu. With all of the costumes, it’s like a spring version of Halloween.”

Um, fun! I know I’ll be there trotting along in all green. Join the fun! I’ll see you in the beer garden.

Click here to register. And go running, drinking, tutu-ing with this guy:

With our summer sadly winding down, there are still a few ways you can take advantage of the outdoors, while giving something back to your community. There is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for women in King County and the surrounding areas called Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is an after school program for elementary school girls in 4th-6th grade. The girls gather together with their “team” two days a week for ten weeks to learn about being healthy, positive young women, all while getting excercise and training for the end of the year 5k!

There are still a few coaching opportunities available for women in the North Seattle area, or those who are willing to travel there. I’m actually coaching this year up in Lake Forest Park!! HOWEVER, if you are like most people, and don’t have a ton of time to give, I’d like to suggest you sign up to be a Running Buddy!

A Running Buddy’s commitment is very low. The duties simply involve being paired with one of the young participants and running (or walking in some instances) alongside them during the 5k. This is a rewarding volunteer opportunity, as you’re able to personally ensure these girls complete their goal that they’ve been working toward for the past 10 weeks, and make sure they have a great time doing it! The program has approximately 350 girls participating this season, and needs that many Running Buddies to accommodate!

If this sounds like something you are interested in, please go to the following link and sign up. And who knows, maybe you’ll just have so much fun that you’ll decide to coach in subsequent seasons.

If you have any questions, visit their website, or feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to seeing some of you at the 5k!

Break out the lederhosen boys and girls. Fremont Oktoberfest is upon us. 

Seattle’s Fall tradition will take place this weekend September 23, 24 and 25th in the Center of the Universe, otherwise known as Fremont. The three-day festival features two stages with live music, an all ages Oktoberfest Village, a 5K run and, most importantly, an Oktoberfest beer tasting garden. Advance tickets to the Tasting Garden cost approximately $20-$25 depending on the number of tokens selected, and include a 5 oz. tasting mug. The festival benefits the Fremont Chamber of Commerce with “a portion of the proceeds going toward funding local schools, art groups, community events and promoting Fremont as the “Center of the Universe.”" I’m not sure what they mean by promoting Fremont as the “Center of the Universe,” but it sounds neat. For information about the festival activities, ticket pricing, etc, click here.

I must admit I have never attended Fremont Oktoberfest. I am always out of town and will be again this year, so I need you to go for me. I will wear lederhosen and drink beer vicariously through you. Even you if you don’t actually wear lederhosen, I will picture you as such. Did that just get creepy? I think it did… and I’m okay with it. Happy beer drinking!

P.S.

Anyone else notice I seem to blog about a beer events rather often? Seattle Beer Week, Washington Brewers Festival, now Fremont Oktoberfest. I see a pattern, Seattle. Like your beer much?

Hands-down one of the most awesome races/relays/family activities in Seattle is creeping up on us. And just in the nick of time to help us detox from this crazy warm weather we’re having in November- if this is La Nina, then I’ll take it.

Gather your friends, co-workers, family, and any one else looking to have a great time (and perhaps burn some calories too) and participate in the Winter Pineapple Classic 2010. Strap on your grass skirt, secure your coconuts and hang on to your pineapples (literally) because this is no ordinary jog around the park.

The hawaiian themed team event is on Saturday, November 13, 2010, first wave of participants starts at 9:00 A.M. The race is at new venue this year to accommodate additional parking and adequate space to set up the 3-mile-long obstacle course (Mountain Meadows Farm: 10106 422nd Lane SE, North Bend, WA 98045 Map). Your team, carrying a pineapple, is timed as you complete a 5k run with obstacles dispersed throughout the course. You will need your teammates to help complete some obstacles.

Have a little fun with this one, dress up, get dirty, laugh and celebrate the island life without even getting on a plane.

Fees are $60/individual, $105/2-person team, and $185/4-person team.  Please categorize your team as either Honu (Hawaiian for turtle — teams that plan to walk), Wiki (Hawaiian for fast — teams that plan to run), or Kekoa (Hawaiian for warrior — teams that plan to win this race).

Register teams as:

• Teams of two or four in single gender or co-ed teams.
• King Kamehameha teams are 2-person teams over 400 lbs or 4-person teams over 800 lbs.

Awards will be given to the fastest teams in all categories and prizes will be given for Best Aloha Spirit (costume).

The Winter Pineapple Classic happens rain or shine, so while we’re being spoiled now with gorgeous fall weather, be like a Washingtonian and bring a change of warm clothes, just in case.

The Winter Pineapple Classic benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society whose mission is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

This is how I feel right now:

Which is why today, I’m going to be bad blogger and submit a cop-out post. What is a cop-out post, you ask? A cop-out post occurs when I don’t have the mental bandwidth or attention span to generate a worthwhile rant or expose, so I throw some information on to a page, and hope that my readers will forgive me. Shame on me, you deserve better and I’m sorry. I promise my future posts will be much more engaging. If you could see me now, and realize how much I actually do look like the lady in the above cartoon, you would understand. Maybe even have a little sympathy.

But moving on, I’ve complied a little list of Seattle happenings this week that you may not have heard of. All the events are a bit random, sort of like this post. But if one person participates in Beard Papa’s Cream Puff Munch-Off, and reports back to the Belles about his or her experience, this may be the most worthwhile post I’ve ever written. Especially if the reader in question snaps of photo of Beard Papa. Cause you know he’s got to be crazy looking.

Cider and oyster tasting prefaced by presentation by acclaimed food writer Rowan Jacobsen

Today — Palace Ballroom — 7 p.m. — $25

“[Rowan Jacobsen will] be joined tonight in a conversation about terroir with local chef/author Greg Atkinson, Northwest seafood icon Jon Rowley, and cider connoisseur Sharon Campbell (of Tieton Cider Works). An oyster and cider tasting will follow the talk.

Wingman Pre-Launch Happy Hour

Wednesday September 22 — 6:30 p.m. — Above Pintxo — Free w/ app download

“Come enjoy free booze and food, win hot door prizes, and help test and launch the new Wingman iPhone application at a Belltown secret spot. Tech fans, social media mavens and their friends are welcome and invited!

Capacity is limited to 150 people, so please RSVP if you plan on attending. Remember to download and sign up for the app before you arrive! Point your mobile phone to http://install.justwin…/ or find it in the iPhone App Store.

Launching soon and in Seattle only, Wingman is the new location-aware iPhone app that makes it easy to flirt and mingle with real people who hang out at the same places as you. Filling a niche somewhere between mobile dating and social networking, Wingman allows you to express interest anonymously with people who’ve been to the same places as you. Like maybe the hottie you’ve been sizing up at Stumptown, or the guy at the bus stop each morning, or the elusive office intern (yikes!). And because Wingman integrates with Foursquare, there’s no need to check-in twice: get your latest badge on Foursquare, but then use Wingman to get your flirt on.”

Beard Pap’s Cream Puff Munch-Off

Thursday September 23rd — Little Red Hen — 6:30 p.m. — Free

“Watch Seattle musicians Matt Badger of Ravenna Woods, Andrew Chapman of The Keeper, and one lucky bearded reader chow down on Beard Papa’s notoriously messy cream puffs for a chance to win a Beard Papa’s gift card, a barber shop visit and the 2010 Voracious Munch-Off Title! Those rooting them on will gain a lifetime of memories, made even more indelible by the Hen’s cheap, stiff drinks and pan-Asian (by way of Texas) cuisine.”

Fremont Oktoberfest Brew Ha-Ha 5K

Sunday, September 26th — Solstice Plaza — 10 a.m. — $20-$30

“Why? There’s a 5K that mostly runs along the Burke Gilman trail and lower Fremont as part of the Fremont Oktoberfest.
If that’s not enough, there is a beer garden within close proximity of the finish line (it is Oktoberfest, after all). If that’s not enough, the race is dog friendly and your dog is also allowed in the beer garden. If that’s not enough and you’re feeling out of shape, there also is a beer belly division (women 175 lbs+ and men 220 lbs+) with separate prizes. If running isn’t really your gig, there is a separate street scramble that starts 30 minutes later (or if you’re fast enough, you can do both).”

If you participate in any of the above, be sure to tell us about it! You know how we love hearing from you