Hayange. Third Color Run on Sunday at Grands-Bois: “People like to throw powder at each other”

Running is very popular, practiced by 12 million people in France. That's one in five adults. There are three main categories: The hardcore competitors, who live for the clock, the marathons, the commitment, the challenge. Nature lovers, who increasingly favor trail running; it's one of the two major trends of the moment. And fans of fun races, with obstacles, a great atmosphere... and colorful ones. Color Runs are springing up like mushrooms, appealing to families because they don't require a timer and because of their festive atmosphere.

Hence the success of the first Color Run in Ottange , Sunday April 27 (250 participants), or that of Fameck last September (400 participants) .

This Sunday, May 4th, the Hayange Color Run will return. This third edition is different in every way, except for the organizer. The city and its agents will still be in charge, at the start and along the route.

Everything else is changing. The first two took place in the forest between Castine and Neufchef, over 6 km, starting from Sainte-Neige Park. This time, it will be from the Grands-Bois high school in Saint-Nicolas-en-Forêt. The parking lot is better, there will be less congestion. The route, of course, is no longer the same. It will go from 6 km to 9. We will run through the fields of Saint-Nicolas-en-Forêt, before continuing with a large loop in the Neufchef forest.

The runners themselves will be significantly more numerous. There were 400 in 2023, 550 last year . There will be 850 this time! Registration has been closed for at least two weeks. "Word of mouth has worked well," comments Mayor Fabien Engelmann. He notes calmly that "people like to throw powder at each other for a good cause."

And it is. Registration fees are donated each year to a charity. In 2023, it was the SPA. Last year, it was the Souffle Jade'or la vie against cystic fibrosis association; this time, it will benefit the Restos du Cœur de Hayange. Some of their volunteers will also be present to supervise the event. Incidentally, the refreshment bar will be run by the dog club, which will be visiting as a neighbor.

It will once again be a great race, without a timer, so without winners, just a good mood. 850 is a lot, but a thousand is within reach. "If word of mouth is good, if it works well there, why not," comments the mayor.

Color Run, meet at the Les Grands-Bois high school parking lot, Sunday, May 4 at 9 a.m.