Although lacking in appeal for serious runners, they say fun runs are a good way to motivate people to participate in sport and encourage healthy living. Photos: Cui Meng/GT

Letting go

It was the second time Zhang participated in The Color Run. Although she had a good run on the track, for her the most exciting part was the after-party.

More than 500 people flocked to an open field near the track, where professional fitness instructors led the crowd in relaxation and stretching exercises.

Many people seemed to enjoy the party more than the actual run, as balloons were set free and some people built a human pyramid, with the person on the very top spraying water onto the crowd with a toy water gun.

"I love the event because I can just fully relax and get 'high' without feeling embarrassed," said Zhang.

She works as an accountant at a State-owned enterprise, and said the pressure at work and in life had become so much, that she just felt the need to release it all.

"The Color Run is just like a party in a nightclub - only a lot healthier because it's held outdoors, and we are getting 'high' in a healthy way in the sunshine under the blue sky."

Zhang and her four friends stayed on the party field long after they had finished running, taking breaks by lying on the grass under the trees.

The venue was packed with people smeared in a rainbow of colors, but there were those who held onto their color powder until after the run.

Patrick Schmitt was one of them. Clutching his packet of orange powder, the young engineer ran around throwing powder at people he thought had not been colored enough on their run.

"Hey you!" he shouted to three girls. Before they could react, they had orange powder thrown all over them. The girls screamed and laughed, as they retaliated.

"I have been to a lot of places in the world like the US, New Zealand, South Africa, Vietnam and so on, and this is the most interesting running event I have ever been to because it's not professional running, no strict rules, just fun," said Schmitt, whose face and hair were all covered in a variety of colors. "You can play with color, and you can tease people..." he said, running off before he had finished talking, only leaving his loud and happy laughter behind.