TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

It seems a pair of Cal State Bakersfield graduate students had the right idea for Saturday's Color Me Rad 5K.

You start out wearing pure white, right?

So Robin Richardson, 24, decided to be a bride, because, as she pointed out, "White dresses are typically for a wedding." Although she acknowledged her flowing dress and veil were a "little dated," the price was right: $12 at Salvation Army.

And by the end of the race at the Kern County Fairgrounds, she and her "groom" for the day, Leila Miss, 23, were splattered with a rainbow of colors from what participants dub "color bombs."

No more white dress, no more crisp white wedding shirt.

That's the idea, folks. Bakersfield's second Color Me Rad 5K is, well, all about being just a tad bit radical -- for fun, for fitness and for a good cause.

More than 5,000 people indulged, Color Me Rad volunteer coordinator Kristine Peterson said, and a portion of funds brought in go to a local charity partner.

In this case, Cal State Bakersfield benefits. Emily Poole, the university's assistant director of campus programs, said some money will go to put on a dance marathon, an event during which money is raised to then go to Children's Miracle Network at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Other money will bolster student initiatives.

Waves of people lined up at the starting line to dash around the fairgrounds and get splattered with cornstarch -- the blue, green, pink, purple and yellow kind.

Monica Hupp, 34, brought her four children to race as part of a three-family group. The Hupp, Holloway and Martinez families became "Team Huppowaytinez," with T-shirts that said so.

"I did it last year and it was so fun," Monica Hupp said. This year she brought the kids.

Twins Anthony and Jude Hupp, 4, along with sister Mary, 3, entered the fairgrounds in a stroller built for three. Monica Hupp wasn't too worried about it being blasted with color, as she does not expect to get much more use out of it. She figured the kids would be pushed for part of the race, and walk on their own, too.

Individuality and creativity shined via participants' attire, from phrases such as "Color Me Nutty," "Fire Away" and "Hit me with your best shot" printed on T-shirts to rainbow wigs to colorful tutus.

Natasha Mizell, 25, was there with a group of women, two of whom celebrated birthdays in the last few days. And some wore pink tutus.

"We just decided instead of going out for her birthday, we'd do something healthy and fun," Mizell said.

Of the pink tutus, she said, her teammates "just wanted to stand out."