Second Color Run on June 3

Last Year’s Color Fun Run featured 98 runners of all ages and was such a success that Malta Parks and Recreation decided to bring it back on Saturday, June 3, Malta’s busiest day of the year.

The event is set to start at 8:30 a.m. before the Annual Car Show held downtown in Malta.

“A lot of people have asked for it and said it was a lot of fun,” Malta Parks and Rec Director Julia Tatafu said of the event. “We had a lot of participation last year and it was well attended.”

Though runners can sign up for the run as late as June 3, participants who sign up by this Friday, May 19 will receive a free “Clash of Colors” t-shirt.

Because this year’s race is run through the City of Malta and not Malta Trails, entries will not be on thecolorrun.com website. So runners are encouraged to spread the word in any way they can.

“That was really nice last year (to have the support of the website) but because of security reasons, we can’t do that this year,” Tatafu said.

The event will feature two races, the 5k run which starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 1 Mile Run scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m.

Though several runners participated in the 2016 5 Mile Run, the run Rec Directors saw fit to have a simpler layout.

“We had problems with the route last year,” Director Natalie Judd said. “One of the signs fell down and runners got lost. This is a simple route and we will also get more color in it.”

The race will have six color stations for this years’ race, which is a couple more colors than last year. The colors are blue, green, orange, red and the last two colors haven’t been decided.

Registration for the run will be at Riverview Park at 8 a.m., behind Malta High School. The Park will also serve as the starting area for the races. The 5k portion of the race is as follows:

“Start at the back of Riverview Park, run to the bridge and turn left to run the Malta Trail. The trail is about 2 miles. When you come to Central, turn right. Then turn left on Sapphire Avenue, and then turn left on 12th street East and Run along the whole Hillcrest Park and the skate park. Then turn left onto 9th street east. Run back to the high school going into the second entrance that says ‘one way,’ run to Riverview Park and that is the end. 5k = 3.1 Miles!”

The route is different than last year’s run, which started behind the City Shop. The reason was to display nearly every park in Malta.

“We wanted to get the parks in there,” Judd said.

“We do have some really nice parks,” Tatafu added. “It’s kind of fun to show them off.”

Another reason for the new route was that parking was an issue last year.

“Parking kind of became an issue last year,” Tatafu said. “We figured they could use the high school parking lot.”

Having Riverview as a start and finish line also gives the younger runners something to do until the one-mile race.

“While the kids are waiting they have stuff to do,” Judd said.

The event welcomes walkers and strollers but will not accept biking entries for the safety of the runners. The City Pool will also allow participants to use the shower areas of the City Pool after the conclusion of the races.