BRUNSWICK — Color Me Rad is a new type of 5K race and it attracted the attention of Mountain Valley High School students, teachers and even alumni this summer.

Before the race, each runner dressed in a white t-shirt, wore the requisite id number and donned a pair of colorful sunglasses. Some even ran in ballet tutus. It was definitely not a typical 5K.

Cody Cunningham, a junior at MVHS, explained, “What I liked about the race was that it was unlike the other 5Ks that I have ran. At the other ones they don’t throw paint at you! The paint was the best part of the race!”

At each kilometer marker, the racers were pelted with vibrant colors carried in harmless cornstarch; thus, the need for the sunglasses.

By the end of the race, their white shirts had turned to rainbow colors.

Nate Billings, another MVHS junior, said, “Someone mentioned it at the end of the school year that we should do the race. It was my first 5K. I was in shape from Police Explorers and it sounded like fun to get back with the teachers.”

“The cross country coaches, Ms. Columbia and Mrs. Todd, talked us into it,” junior Nick Billings added. It was also this Billings’ first 5K.

Coach Lacey Todd and math teacher Katie Killam organized participation in the race, transportation to Brunswick and joined the fun.

English teacher Natalie Simmons completed her first 5K race. Health teacher Kristen Provencher and her sister Ayla Allen, a MVHS alumna, also ran.

Coach Laura Columbia explained, “The race raised money for the YMCA in Brunswick through the $45 entrance fee. An anonymous donor paid the fees for the students.”

Once the MVHS team arrived in Brunswick, they saw other MVHS students including junior Caleb Gauvin, freshman Casey Glover and alumna Abby Day.

Columbia concluded, “It was a fun race and a great way to connect with students over the summer.”RAD race involves MVHS students, teachers and alum


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