The Ellinwood Rotary Club will change up a favorite June Jaunt activity this year. For the past couple of years they organized a Color Run, but after the initial year, attendance waned. What was missing, they believed, was a sense of competition that would get teams revved up to take part.
“What we really hope to do is make Ellinwood’s Color Run a fast and fun competition that will encourage teams to get involved,” said Color Run committee chair Tricia Schlessiger. “We want winning the Color Run to be a point of pride.”
A traveling trophy has been designed for the winning team. The winning team will have its name listed on the trophy. But that’s not all.
The club has decided to make this a relay-team event instead of having each person run the whole race. Basically what that means is each member will run a portion of the race, not the whole thing.”
Each person will have to pass the “baton” to the next runner on their team. This will help runners of all abilities to participate. Each runner can run their portion without having to run the whole race.
“We are keeping the relay teams to runners 18 years and older,” she said. “I am hoping this will entice some more entries.”
Each team will consist of five people and each person on the team can run their length of the race. The team as a total must complete the 5K course. The team finisher will be required to have the finisher items from all team members.
The winning team will get to display/keep the trophy for a year then it will travel to the next year’s winner at the 2017 June Jaunt.
“I am very excited about adding this relay to this years event.,” Schlessiger said. “I think it will definitely add some fun friendly competition.”

Individual racers
For individual participants, a traditional 5K run and walk will also be held at the same time. Awards will be given to the top male and female in each group. They include: Most Colorful, under 18, ages 19-29, ages 30-39, ages 40-49 and 50 and over. Participants will be dusted with color at several points along the race course, so wearing white t-shirts is advised so they can show off their “Color Fix” proudly at the end.
Advanced registration for the Saturday, June 4 race is taking place now through May 15, with individual entries at $20, and team entries at $100. After May 15, the regular price for registration will be $25 per individual and $125 per team. All proceeds will go to the Ellinwood Rotary Club Scholarship Fund which benefits Ellinwood graduating seniors. Pre-race day registration is recommended, forms are available at Sunflower Bank, Community Bank, and the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce website, www.ellinwoodchamber.com Registration will also be taken the day of the race, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the shelter on the East side of City Park. Races begin at 8 a.m.
Contact Tricia Schlessiger with any questions about the race at 620-562-7744 or email at tkschlessiger@gmail.com.