The horn sounds and the wild and crazy Pattaya Colour Run begins with the 5k run up and around Pratamnak Hill. Now an annual event, the walkways around the hilly park were packed with participants of all ages Jan. 17 for the second running of this fun way to raise money for charity.
In what is now an annual event, the walkways around Pratumnak Hill were packed with participants of all ages on Jan. 17 for the second Pattaya Colour Run.
A brief rain shower at 7:30am cooled the air for the event. Attendees could either take part in a five-kilometre run or join the two-kilometre walk-run. In either case, the focus was on having fun, rather than competition.
The horn sounds and the wild and crazy Pattaya Colour Run begins with the 5k run up and around Pratamnak Hill. Now an annual event, the walkways around the hilly park were packed with participants of all ages Jan. 17 for the second running of this fun way to raise money for charity.
Local personality/entertainer Shayachon Yangpreeda lovingly known as ‘Rose’ acted once more as the emcee for the event and kept things moving, building up towards the start time at 8 a.m.
She welcomed a number of VIPs to the stage, including President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya Max Rommel, chief organiser Rotary Assistant District Governor Vutikorn Kamolchote, event sponsors Gudmund Eiksund from Norwegian Properties Group, and Rotary Past District Governor Pratheep ‘Peter’ Malhotra from the Pattaya Mail Media Group. City hall was represented by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh with sponsors including Pattaya Self Storage, Thai President Foods (makers of Mama instant noodles), Lactasoy, and the Riviera Group.
Toilet facilities and drinking water were provided by city hall, which also took care of road closures and directing traffic. Medical staff from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya were on hand in case of emergency.
The event was organized by the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, with Rotarian Helle Rantsen taking care of registration and Vutikorn overseeing the proceedings along with city hall and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Two years ago, Vutikorn saw the success of colour runs held all over the world and thought it would be a great fit with Pattaya.
Just after 8am, Rose counted down and soon the air was filled with the bright colours of the powder and the runners set off.
Meanwhile the participants in the shorter walk-run assembled and enjoyed the atmosphere and music. Very soon the first of the 5 km. runners were crossing the finish line and the walk-run started.
By this point everybody was covered in the multi-coloured powder, even members of the press and onlookers.
Within another 30 minutes, everybody was back at the starting point and prizes were given to the most colourful, best dressed, biggest group, heaviest, oldest runner and best selfie taker.
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya will use proceeds from the event to assist the small, poor, Wat Mai Pho Thong School in Muang District of Sa Kaeo Province.
The school provides education to local children from nursery level to Grade 6, with five teachers handling the 55 students in nine different classes.
The current building requires a major overhaul and furnished with new desks at an approximate cost of 542,000 baht.
More pictures of the Pattaya Colour Run can be found online on Facebook at Pattaya Colour Run, and at www.pattayamail.com.
