Few people have tried to interview an impressionist painting. And even fewer have successfully chatted to a colourfully dotted art work that also breathes, talks and either walks or runs.
But that was exactly what happened, at yesterday's Sport Otago Rainbow Run, and, after the event, budding interviewers had more than 400 either still very mobile, or slightly puffed and briefly less mobile human art works to choose from.
Among the rainbow walkers was Sports Otago operations manager and rainbow run event manager Duane Donovan.
His many helpers might not have been exactly trying to paint the town red, but at the very least showered walkers and runners with some bright shades of green, yellow, pink, purple and blue, at respective colour stations around the Logan Park course.
Sport Otago's rainbow event began in Dunedin last year, and participation was up, from about 300 to more than 400 this year.
''I'm very pleased with how it went,'' Mr Donovan said.
Responding to public feedback about how to keep youngsters more involved, organisers cut the length of the course from 5km to 3km, but allowed the faster moving runners to go round twice if they so desired.
''Making the course a bit shorter so the little kids could get around was probably the big success,'' Mr Donovan said.
Runners of many shapes, sizes and ages took part, but most were female and many were youngsters, with many moving along in family groups.
First runner home was Terry Perkins, a Dunedin carpenter who reaching the finish splattered in many colours, including some memorable blue spots. And, he added,''I hate running.''
He keeps fit, including through mixed martial arts, and adding to the fun was the participation of his partner Julie Herbison and son Maddix Herbison (9).
And earlier in the morning, Ms Herbison had also run an Outram 10km event, as part of the Hill Free Half Marathon.
Among the other participants, Lyn Rapley, who walked with other family members, and had no objection to becoming an art work for a few minutes, pointing out that the food grade dye colouring would easily wash off..
