Running isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun time. However, local families had a blast at the Gleason Family YMCA’s color run.

As part of their open house on Sept. 19, the YMCA held their first ever color run for kids of the community. Volunteers were stationed all across the path, loaded up with colored powder to blast the runners with.

The participants, all decked out in white, were a riot of bright neon colors by the end of the first lap.

After the color run was the silly string run geared toward the younger kids who couldn’t participate in the mile-long run. Volunteers fired silly string at participants as they made their way through an obstacle course.

“[We’re trying] to get kids out, get them active,” said membership coordinator Cathy Longfield. “We also have sports classes for the little, little kids so it was like ‘come here, come see what we’re doing.’ We have fun in the community.”

The YMCA is hosting a number of upcoming events, including a costume drive, a Halloween spooktacular and a Santa Claus meet and greet in December. The proceeds from the Y's events go toward their annual 5K campaign and toward financial aid for families or individuals who can’t afford memberships.

The color run is just a small glimpse of some larger goals.

The Gleason Family YMCA are bidding to hold the annual Gleason Family 5K Road Race at the YMCA facility. Longfield says they would love to liven it up by making it a color run 5K.