Now it can be told that the likes of Jesse McCartney, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber (or almost every pop star you can possibly think of) and I have one thing in common: We all got slimed.
Nickelodeon’s All That in the early 2000s and the Kids’ Choice Awards made it possible for kids to have fun being soaked in green goo.
Getting drenched in green slime is an experience and a celebration popularized by Nickelodeon, a TV channel focused on creating content for children and teens.
According to the network, “getting slimed is an honor… a happy experience … a way for people to experience Nickelodeon first-hand.”
But as people looked like they really enjoy it, the curious would tend to ask:
Does it stink? How is its consistency? Does it taste like candy? Does it stain? How do we get it out of our hair?
These were probably going through the heads of the participants of the Slime Cup Run—Nickelodeon Philippines’ first running event recently held at Mall of Asia open grounds—before they entered the slime tunnel at the finish line.
It was a family affair—including the members’ beloved pets.
Since proceeds of the Slime Cup Run would be donated to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Nickelodeon decided to let pets join the event.
“We live solely on volunteers and donations,” PAWS volunteer Sharon Yap said. The animal advocacy organization aims to prevent animal cruelty by educating individuals, as well as rescuing and providing shelter to street animals and setting them up for adoption.
The Slime Cup Run had only short distances, the running courses easy enough for toddlers and pets to finish. The 3-km track running event started early at 6 a.m., and the smell of the sea breeze right across from Manila Bay added a refreshing and awakening element.
Meanwhile, the one-kilometer track had simple obstacles set up for dogs on leashes.
Majority of the pets were guided through the hurdles and cones by children, while parents and guardians happily jogged behind them.
“This was their first formal run,” Jess Advento said of her Siberian Huskies, Bruno and Keira.
Dog necessities
1K running category.
“They haven’t gone out since it’s been raining, so we wanted to try if they could run,” Advento explained.
It was also a good move to let the dogs carry light bags that contained their necessities, like dog food and toiletries.
“The dogs are pretty fast,” Advento added. “The bags actually slow them down.”
Joining fun runs with pets require more caution—they must always be on leashes to prevent accidents and unwanted engagement with other animals or children. Bringing cleanup materials is a must, too.
“Keira and Bruno got a bit distracted by the other dogs, they’re not used to seeing so many,” Advento noted.
Prior to joining a run, it would be best to let pets interact with other animals so they would get used to the company of fellow furry friends.
The last event of the Slime Cup Run was a 200-m dash exclusively for kids aged 7 and below.
“My kids insisted that we go to this event,” Will Serrano said.
“For the kids, it’s all about the slime—not even the run,” Serrano, a father of two, added. “They really woke up early for the slime.”
It was the first time Serrano’s family participated together in a run, and what made it more special was sharing the slimy experience with their two-month-old Shih Tzu, Uno.
On the event grounds, Nickelodeon cartoons like “Spongebob Squarepants” and “Fairly Odd Parents” were also projected on a big screen, attracting children and the rest of family members to sit and watch while waiting for their running category.
The pets also had their own area, with a pool filled with water and plastic balls.
There were interesting games for pairs, like the Huge Donut Toss and Snail Race. In the toss, one threw doughnut-shaped inflatables to a partner, who used his or her body to catch it.
five dogs to the run to educate people about the
process of adoption.
The Snail Race used water guns to move plastic toy boats with an image of Gary, Spongebob’s pet snail, across a pipe filled with water towards the finish line.
“The event was very engaging for the kids and adults because there were many fun activities,” said 22-year-old Rhevie Cayetano, who came with his friends.
Even those in their 20s and up attended for one reason: slime.
The tunnel at the end of the running events was dubbed “finish slime,” but the most awaited moment of getting covered in neon-green goop wasn’t as glorious as seen on TV.
The epic moment was more of a measly slimy shower, rather than a downpour of slime. If you wanted to get really drenched, you’d have to stay inside the tunnel for a few minutes, with small batches of runners passing you by.
So, what’s it like to get slimed? It was like sweating out the sticky mixture of glue and water often used for papier maché—and it sure tasted and smelled that way, too!