Participants showed their spirit Saturday before the Missouri versus Alabama game at the Ultramax Sports and Clear 99 Black and Gold Run.
“We decided that we wanted to do something this year to celebrate the SEC and get energized about the game,” Ultramax Sports owner Mark Livesay said. “We had to pick Alabama versus Missouri, and the popularity of the Color Runs have been so crazy, we said, ‘We need a Black and Gold Run.’”
The two-mile route started at Peace Park and circled downtown and through part of campus, Livesay said.
The colors of this run appealed to MU fans in particular, William Woods University junior Amy Gibson said.
“There’s a lot of color runs out there, but the black and gold is cool for Mizzou spirit,” Gibson said.
As the runners progressed to the finish line, they threw gold powder on each other, transforming their apparel from pure black to gold.
“It’s before the game, so if people don’t want to wash themselves off and then go to the game, they’ll all be covered in black and gold,” runner and MU freshman Putri Idris said.
MU alumnus Corey Whitesides said he did just that.
“My cousin and brother are going to go take showers, and I’m going straight to tailgating after this,” Whitesides said. “I’m staying dirty.”
The Black and Gold Run was not only an opportunity to get a little messy, but also a chance for MU fans to unite, volunteer Debbie Anderson said.
“Mizzou Tigers just give a lot of enthusiasm before the games, and the whole community has come together,” Anderson said.
Livesay said he originally hoped 1,000 people would participate in the run. He said his expectations were exceeded, though, because he thinks about 1,300 runners partook in the event.
“We want to get the town pumped up for the big game today,” MU freshman and volunteer Carley Hummel said.
While some volunteers cheered runners on, others passed out shirts, beads and paint and signed guests in.
“I know it’s a good opportunity to just help out with the Columbia and Mizzou community,” freshman volunteer Hailey Slater said.
The excitement and happiness of everyone at the event was apparent and the atmosphere was different than that of a typical run, Livesay said.
“A normal run is really competitive, and this takes all that off and is just a good way to have fun with a little bit of exercise with your family and have a great time,” Livesay said.
Some fans, such as Whitesides, came to the run to show their support for MU, despite what they thought the outcome of the game might have been.
“I do not think Mizzou is going to win today, unfortunately, but I do think it’s going to be a good time,” Whitesides said.
Livesay said though he knew it was going to be a tough game to win for the Tigers, he was still optimistic.
“Hopefully, this will give ‘em a little bit of a boost,” he said.