The Waldo Waldo 5K was an annual five kilometer walk/run hosted in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Participants dressed in Where's Waldo costumes included with the price of admission, with raised funds going towards "Waldo Canyon restoration, disaster relief, fire recovery, outdoor activities and trails and open space maintenance in the local community."[1]
The race was founded by Chelise Foster in 2012 as a response to the Waldo Canyon Wildfire.[2] According to a Q&A with Foster, it was originally meant to be a small gathering of volunteers that would dress up in Where's Waldo costumes to clean up the Waldo Canyon, but instead became a fundraiser to help offset the financial burden following the disaster. Foster was an elope, Inc. employee at the time, and the company agreed to provide Waldo and Wenda costumes at a discount for the event, and has been the presenting sponsor since.[3][4] The inaugural race at the America the Beautiful Park included over 1,000 participants, and raised approximately $20,000 for the Waldo Canyon Firefighter Relief Fund.[5][6] The seventh and final race, the Waldo Waldo 5K Grand Finale, was held on October 20, 2018.[7]
Eventedit
In subsequent iterations, the Waldo Waldo 5K split raised funds between the Trails and Open Space Coalition and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute.[3] Since 2012, event organizers attempted to break the Guinness World Record for "Largest gathering of people dressed as Wally/Waldo" with no success. In an interview with Fox 21 News during the 2014 5K, Foster stated,"We have about 3,200 this year. But the world record has always been secondary. If we get the world record that’s great, but it’s really just a fun way to get people out here."[8]
Before 2014, the 5K ran through the America the Beautiful Park. It now begins and ends at the Pioneers Museum in central Downtown Colorado Springs.[3] Recent events have included yoga classes, food trucks, and exhibitors before and after the event.[6] Live music and a beer garden were added at the 2015 race.[1]
Receptionedit
The event generally received favorable views from participants and spectators. Several runners at the 2015 event described it as a "fun experience" and "a symbol of teamwork and unification."[9] In 2014, the Colorado Springs Independent gave the Waldo Waldo 5K a rank of silver in the "Best Fundraising Event" category.[10]
^ abcBergsten, Tim. "Chelise Foster: Waldo's star in stripes". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
^"The deeper meaning behind the Waldo Waldo's playful red and white stripes". www.pikespeaksports.us. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
^Posted by Tim Bergsten on October 16, 2013 at 1:23pm in News and Features; Discussions, Back to News and Features. "Q&A with Chelise Foster, the creative go-getter behind the Waldo Waldo 5K". Retrieved 2016-06-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Baranowski, Sam (2014-10-27). "Thousands dress as 'Where's Waldo?' to support Waldo Canyon restoration". FOX21News.com. Retrieved 2016-06-13.
^KKTV. "Waldo Waldo 5K run in Colorado Springs". www.kktv.com. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
^"Best Of Colorado Springs 2014 Vol. 2: Welcome and Winners Index". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
April 12, 2024
waldo, waldo, annual, five, kilometer, walk, hosted, colorado, springs, colorado, participants, dressed, where, waldo, costumes, included, with, price, admission, with, raised, funds, going, towards, waldo, canyon, restoration, disaster, relief, fire, recovery. The Waldo Waldo 5K was an annual five kilometer walk run hosted in Colorado Springs Colorado Participants dressed in Where s Waldo costumes included with the price of admission with raised funds going towards Waldo Canyon restoration disaster relief fire recovery outdoor activities and trails and open space maintenance in the local community 1 The Waldo Waldo 5KStatusActiveGenre5k runFrequencyAnnualLocation s Colorado Springs ColoradoCountryUnited States of AmericaYears active7InauguratedOctober 21 2012 2012 10 21 FounderChelise FosterMost recentOctober 20 2018Sponsorelope Inc Websitewaldowaldo wbr comContents 1 History 2 Event 3 Reception 4 Participation 5 ReferencesHistory editThe race was founded by Chelise Foster in 2012 as a response to the Waldo Canyon Wildfire 2 According to a Q amp A with Foster it was originally meant to be a small gathering of volunteers that would dress up in Where s Waldo costumes to clean up the Waldo Canyon but instead became a fundraiser to help offset the financial burden following the disaster Foster was an elope Inc employee at the time and the company agreed to provide Waldo and Wenda costumes at a discount for the event and has been the presenting sponsor since 3 4 The inaugural race at the America the Beautiful Park included over 1 000 participants and raised approximately 20 000 for the Waldo Canyon Firefighter Relief Fund 5 6 The seventh and final race the Waldo Waldo 5K Grand Finale was held on October 20 2018 7 Event editIn subsequent iterations the Waldo Waldo 5K split raised funds between the Trails and Open Space Coalition and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute 3 Since 2012 event organizers attempted to break the Guinness World Record for Largest gathering of people dressed as Wally Waldo with no success In an interview with Fox 21 News during the 2014 5K Foster stated We have about 3 200 this year But the world record has always been secondary If we get the world record that s great but it s really just a fun way to get people out here 8 Before 2014 the 5K ran through the America the Beautiful Park It now begins and ends at the Pioneers Museum in central Downtown Colorado Springs 3 Recent events have included yoga classes food trucks and exhibitors before and after the event 6 Live music and a beer garden were added at the 2015 race 1 Reception editThe event generally received favorable views from participants and spectators Several runners at the 2015 event described it as a fun experience and a symbol of teamwork and unification 9 In 2014 the Colorado Springs Independent gave the Waldo Waldo 5K a rank of silver in the Best Fundraising Event category 10 Participation editMeaningRed World Record Attempt FailedYellow World Record Made Since Broken Green Holds current World RecordDate EventOctober 21 2012 Over 1 000October 27 2013 Over 2 700October 26 2014 3 104October 17 2015 3 400October 22 2016 3 524October 21 2017 TBDReferences edit a b Waldo Waldo 5K helps raise funds for Waldo Canyon restoration Colorado Springs Gazette Retrieved 2016 06 13 4th annual Waldo Waldo 5K www koaa com Retrieved 2016 06 13 a b c Bergsten Tim Chelise Foster Waldo s star in stripes Colorado Springs Independent Retrieved 2016 06 13 The deeper meaning behind the Waldo Waldo s playful red and white stripes www pikespeaksports us Retrieved 2016 06 14 Posted by Tim Bergsten on October 16 2013 at 1 23pm in News and Features Discussions Back to News and Features Q amp A with Chelise Foster the creative go getter behind the Waldo Waldo 5K Retrieved 2016 06 13 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b Waldo Waldo 5K could break records event runs Sunday Colorado Springs Gazette Retrieved 2016 06 13 Home waldowaldo com Baranowski Sam 2014 10 27 Thousands dress as Where s Waldo to support Waldo Canyon restoration FOX21News com Retrieved 2016 06 13 KKTV Waldo Waldo 5K run in Colorado Springs www kktv com Retrieved 2016 06 14 Best Of Colorado Springs 2014 Vol 2 Welcome and Winners Index Colorado Springs Independent Retrieved 2016 06 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Waldo Waldo 5K amp oldid 1102926842, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
