Release Your Inner Child at The Arctic Blast Color Dash

Put some color and fun into your winter landscape and release your inner child at the Arctic Blast Color Dash held annually in Ishpeming, MI!

Chris Plourde stands in front of a sponsor sign after running in the snowshoe race for the Arctic Color Dash in Ishpeming, MI.

Ishpeming, Michigan – “Acrtic Blast Color Dash do you want to do it?”  That was the question my friend Jennifer asked me one day.  Me being the outdoor, high activity, fun loving yooper girl yelled “Hell Yea!”.  Here I was, all signed up for an activity that I didn’t have a clue about or know what to expect.  All I knew is that would be a snowshoe race involving colors of some sort.

The day of the “Color Dash” I met Jennifer at her house.  By then I had learned that the “dash” was an untimed snowshoe race.  Upon arriving at check points throughout the course you were to be pelted with color “bombs.”  As a racer you would receive a white shirt (for keepers) that was worn over your jacket or sweathirt and the dye was washable. So there was snowshoing, a free shirt, and getting pelted with colors, oh how much fun! Jennifer and I headed to the Country Village in Ishpeming.

Upon arrival we picked up our shirts and strapped on our snowshoes.  While waiting for the start we took the time to meet fellow racers and even ended up the news.  The atmosphere was fantastic.  There was music playing, a bon fire to stay warm, and in the warming shack there was coffee and hot chocolate.  The participants were all smiles and happy.  Anyone could do the race.  It was untimed so participants could go at their own pace.  There were even snowshoes to borrow if someone did not have any.  They removed all excuses why anyone could not do it.

The race began with the first bomb of color.  There was blue everywhere, it made me feel like a kid again.  All the racers were in a pack to start, but quickly spread out as we continued on our way to complete the 5k, at our own paces.  The Ishpeming scenary was beautiful.  Snow glistened among the trees, it was a clear bue sky, and the sun shown brightly against the snow.  Jennifer and I were having a blast.  As we went along the trail we moved up in line and the excitment grew as I looked forward to being hit with more colors, I loved it!  The kid in me was totally coming out.

We went through various terrains, up a long hill, into some woods and on a road or two.  It reminded me how much I truly appreciate all that our area has to offer and I could think of nothing better then sharing it with a good friend.  We both delighted in being hit with the colors. That was my favorite part, it was cool.

 We walked the whole 5k, passing other participants who had been dyed as well.  The volunteers were excited as we came through their check points. When we reached the finish line we found a bunch of kids waiting for us with loaded cups of color powder.  They dumped it all over us, having as much fun coloring us as we were having getting colored.  It was a most excellent time! We took our snowshoes off and took tons of colored pictures of each other and headed to the bon fire to warm up with another cup of hot chocolate.  From the heat of the fire we rooted our new friends as they crossed the finish line.

Chris Plourde and friend Jennifer enjoy a cup of hot tea before heading outside for the Artic Color Dash in Ishpeming, MI.

We learned that there will be another color race in the summer called “Run or Dye” and Jennifer and I decided that we would definately be there race. In fact, we can’t wait.  If you love the snow, want to snowshoe and release the inner child from the inside out, then next year I will be waiting at the starting line for you, see you there!

by Chris Plourde

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