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Library/Activity/The Color Run
Grade B28 sourcesHIS-00767

The Color Run

Activity · 2012 · Niche

29Editable slideCertificate

The Color Run expanded worldwide; its organizer reported over 8 million participants.

Original · The Color Run
The Color Run (Vilnius)
Augustas Didžgalvis / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
MerPalooza Mermaid Festival 2013
TIME
LUSH JAPAN『The Color Run Tokyo presented by new balance』オフィシャルスポンサーとしてカラーパウダー提供
Lush Japan via PR TIMES
The Color Run 5K Series Relaunches, Kicking Off at Dignity Health Sports Park | Dignity Health Sports Park
The Color Run / Thematic Runs via Dignity Health Sports Park
Participants at the green color station in Munich on 30 June 2013; Isderion, CC BY-SA 3.0 Germany.
Isderion / CC BY-SA 3.0 de / Wikimedia Commons
The Color Run
True
The Color Run
Pulse Digital
Mad Hat Asia - The Color Run 2018
Mad Hat Asia
Dulux Color Run
The Fortuna via Campaign Asia agency portfolio
I Tried It: The Color Run (with Photos!) - Philadelphia Magazine
Philadelphia Magazine
Maine fun-run promoters race to cash in on fitness craze
Portland Press Herald
Inside Events: The Color Run
Sports Destination Management

Spread Score

How it works
Reach0Contagion45Breadth80Velocity0LongevityNo data yet29

Numbers

Dream Tour paid campaign estimated reach, four Australian cities
1M
Self-reported · True
Peak date
Week of Jul 21, 2013
Jan 28 ’12 to Week of Jul 21, 2013
Platforms
4
Started on Open web
Origin
Mixed
Health & fitness

Mechanics

  • Real-world spectaclePrimary
  • Press loop
  • Dupe economy
  • Sell-out loop
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

The Tempe run sold out, then expanded its city tour as participants shared photos and recruited friends. Worldwide search interest peaked in July 2013. Sponsors, paid campaigns and IMG supported international growth; Y11 announced a relaunch in 2025.

Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Google searchesJul ’11Mar ’12JulOctJun ’13SepMar ’14JunFeb ’17Feb ’20Feb ’23Oct ’25PeakOpen webYouTubeFacebookPress
Open webYouTubeFacebookPress

14 more events on this chart

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Timeline (17)

  1. January 2012

    The Color Run seed · Jan 28 ’12

    The first run took place in Tempe; the organizer later reported 6,000 participants.[1][2]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. May 2012

    The Color Run owner response · May 11 ’12

    The organizer said demand had expanded its planned tour from 18 cities to more than 40.[3]

  3. The Color Run platform jump · May 11 ’12

    The owner linked a compiled event film for the coming weekend; its exact upload date remains unknown.[3]

Changelogupdated Oct 16 ’26
  1. 2026-10-16Added 1 event
  2. 2026-10-15Fact-check passed (44 claims)
  3. 2026-10-14Added: 16 events, 27 sources · Score 29
Origin
Mixed
Sector
Health & fitness
Region
US
Dream Tour paid campaign estimated reach, four Australian cities
1M
Self-reported · True
Evidence
Grade B

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80
Drake - God's Plan

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Mike Senatore's talent-show bottle flip

X · 2016

73
Official App Store gameplay screenshot of the derivative game Bottle Flip 2k16.

Peaked at #1

This Smells Like My Vagina candle

Retail · 2019

39
Heretic’s This Smells Like My Vagina candle and packaging.

100 sold

Running Flan Club

Open web · 2024

14
Running Flan Club on Instagram: "Beaucoup de nouveaux ET beaux sourires sur cette édition #9 du RFC, encore merci 👻 On a le cœur tout plein de flans et on a hâte de vous revoir samedi prochain 🫶🏼…

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

See every timeline

Free account, every case's full spread.

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Google searchesJul ’11Mar ’12JulOctJun ’13SepMar ’14JunFeb ’17Feb ’20Feb ’23Oct ’25PeakOpen webYouTubeFacebookPress
Open webYouTubeFacebookPress

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. January 2012

    The Color Run seed · Jan 28 ’12

    The first run took place in Tempe; the organizer later reported 6,000 participants.[1][2]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. May 2012

    The Color Run owner response · May 11 ’12

    The organizer said demand had expanded its planned tour from 18 cities to more than 40.[3]

  3. The Color Run platform jump · May 11 ’12

    The owner linked a compiled event film for the coming weekend; its exact upload date remains unknown.[3]

  1. platform jump · Jul 9 ’12

  2. commercial · Jul 17 ’12

Join free to see the other 14 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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