(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Undeterred by the frosted grass and the frigid temperatures of a Saturday morning, runners bundled up and laced up their sneakers for the Run Tyler 5K Color Run at the Rose Complex.

Participants ranged from families looking for an active way to spend the day to serious runners aiming to add another event to their personal achievements or training goals.

“This is a lifestyle,” said Athens resident Griselda Spears. “I like the adrenaline rush once you get going. It feels good to keep running. We definitely want to have more races under our belt, so we’re excited to be here for this.”

The event, organized by Tyler’s Parks and Recreation Department, was designed not as a timed race but as an opportunity to encourage community engagement and celebrate the start of the new year.

“The purpose of our fun run was to provide a fun way for our community to get active,” said recreation manager Kandice Johnson. “We decided to make it a color run to make it more fun. We didn’t time the race because we want people to focus on enjoying each other, nature, and being active.”

Run Tyler 5K also serves as a fundraiser for the department. All proceeds go toward other programs and activities similar to the fun run.

“It’s the second time that we’ve been able to do the fun run so we’re excited to bring it back and have it in-person,” Johnson said.

The first time Parks and Recreation hosted a fun run was a virtual 5K during COVID, designed to encourage people to stay active and connected while maintaining social distancing. Participants ran independently on their chosen routes, logging their progress online and sharing photos to celebrate their accomplishments together, even from afar.

The gap between the first virtual fun run in 2021 and Saturday morning’s color fun run can be attributed to a mix of unforeseen challenges, both within and outside the organizers’ control, which required adjustments to their plans.

“We’re hoping to make this a consistent and annual thing,” Johnson said.

The run had about 150 registrants and 120 that were able to make it, according to organizers.

“The cold might have slowed down some people’s paces but we didn’t have any complaints and had many stop and say how much of a good time they had,” Johnson said.

For many, the thought of running in subfreezing temperatures is far from appealing. For Nicky Lira of Athens, however, the cold is a welcome preference.

“I like running better when it’s cold versus when it’s hot,” she said. “We just get out there and have fun.”

Runners were greeted with a kaleidoscope of powder as they hit the 1-mile and 2-mile marks and then the finish line. The powder is typically made of cornstarch and food-grade coloring.

“This is our first color race so it’s exciting,” Spears said. “I think for anyone, for any race, should just get up and go. You don’t have to be fast, you don’t have to do long distances… it’s all about running and having fun.”

“(We) just want to thank all that came out,” Johnson said. “Their participation is appreciated. We enjoy putting on events like this and providing opportunities at low or no cost, to ensure that our community is able to do things and make memories.”