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Bloody Good Fun

Best Idea For a 5K Race Ever: Have the Runners Chased by Zombies

by Jamie Frevele | 12:55 pm, February 26th, 2012


As someone who takes part in a small variety of fitness activities and also loves everything about zombies, this is probably the most brilliant combination of those two things that I have ever seen: Run For Your Lives, a 5K “marathon” and “apocalyptic” obstacle course taking place in various locations in the United States in which the runners are chased by zombies. No, this is not to raise funds for research into curing the zombie virus or spreading zombie awareness. This is a purely fun — and possibly educational — event that is sure to please the geekiest of athletes. This is something, I think, many of us can get behind.

The event takes place in several cities beginning with Atlanta, Georgia on March 3. After that, it travels to Boston (May 5), Minneapolis (June 2), Indianapolis (June 23), and several other cities, ending with Austin (December 15). And here is how it works:

Runners are given typical running gear — a t-shirt, racing bib, and flag belt, “just like the overly intimidating game of flag football.” That flag belt will have five flags on it that represent the runner’s health. Using their skills and strategy, the runners are tasked with holding on to all of their flags while zombies try to steal them. Or, in zombie terms, eat them. But there will be “health bonuses” throughout the course that can prevent runners from reaching the point of death, if the runner can hold on to them.

The obstacle course contains 12 natural and man-made obstacles such as small bodies of water that may or may not contain blood. There is an opportunity to opt out of completing the obstacles, however runners who do that will be labeled “zombies” and will no longer be eligible for prizes. No matter what happens, whether you win, you become a zombie due to zombie attacks, or you opt out of obstacles, your time will still be recorded.

Then there is, of course, the zombies. Don’t worry, they do not physically attack the runners. They merely go after the flags and try to grab them. But there are rules that the zombies must obey — this is a competition for them as well as the runners:

You are to never grab more than one flag from a runner.
You must obey your zombie group leader at all times. Trust them, they will lead you to a glorious undead victory.
Stumbler zombies are never to run and chase down a runner.
Chaser zombies must run and chase runners during their shift. We understand you will need time to rest but we don’t want you standing around your entire shift either.
A zombie must complete his/her shift in order to receive the zombie perks. This includes signing in when you arrive and signing out when you are finished your shift.
Any visibly intoxicated zombies will not be allowed to participate and will not receive any of the zombie perks.
All zombies must be 14 years of age or older by race day in order to participate

In case you’re more interested in being a zombie than a runner, some locations are taking applications!

The whole thing ends with an Apocalypse Party, to which runners, zombies, and spectators are invited as long as they get their hands on an Apocalypse Pass. Because this is a celebration — of surviving a zombie apocalypse.

I almost can’t get over how cool and awesome this sounds. If any readers of The Mary Sue are participating in Run For Your Lives, definitely get in touch with us (tips [at] themarysue [dot] com) and tell us all about it, especially if you’ll be taking part next weekend in Atlanta!

(via Run For Your Lives)

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  • Anonymous

    Brilliant, probably a bit less strategic / panic-y than 2.8 Hours Later,  but I’d like to see it make a jump across the Atlantic :-)

  • https://twitter.com/ZenPoseur ZenPoseur

    Any visibly intoxicated zombies will not be allowed to participate and will not receive any of the zombie perks.

    Alcoholic zombies need to be helped, not stigmatized.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1416495457 Morgan Flood

    I’m like the least athletic person in the history of the planet but I would do this. It’s too awesome not to consider.

  • Terence Ng

    I’m doing this next weekend! I’m so excited. I made a White Mage running costume. :E

  • Francesca M

    I’m doing a Couch to 5k thing right now. I now have my goal race! See you in Austin.

  • http://twitter.com/theladysybil Stacie Yates

    Ahem. 5K Marathon.

    5K. Marathon.

    5K.

    Marathon.

    You keep using those two words together. I do not think it means what you think it means…

    You can’t see it through the computer, but I’m totally giving you that same funny look I give people who ask me “How long is this next 5K marathon you’re doing?”, “How much longer is a 10K than a 5K?” and “Oh, you’ve done a 10K marathon, too?” and I can’t quite figure out if they’re serious or kidding. ;)

  • Laura Chenoweth

    HAHA yes thank you Stacie. 5k = 5k. Marathon = 40k. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=3429243 Alana Beltzer

    Oh, I think I’ve found my next race! Thank goodness the LA/San Diego one isn’t until October…gives me plenty of time to get back in shape for it!

  • http://twitter.com/GeekGurlPhD GeekGurlPhD

    OMG…this is FANTASTIC. I can’t do a 5k, but I’m sure I could hack being a shuffling zombie. 

  • http://twitter.com/theladysybil Stacie Yates

     Fear not! I just found an app that would totally be an appropriate training aid.

    https://www.zombiesrungame.com/

    How cool is that? I didn’t even know it existed until today.

  • http://twitter.com/theladysybil Stacie Yates

     Don’t get me wrong, I would totally love to claim I’m an ultra-runner for completing that first official 10K last year…

    A marathon while being chased by zombies would certainly lend a new terror to the idea of 26.2. I have a feeling I would be shufflin’ like the living dead by the end, zombies or no zombies.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jess-Clark/528131375 Jess Clark

    I’m signed up to be a zombie (And run) in Balt. And I’m doing Hero Rush (Herorush.com) which is a 5k firefighter themed obstacle race

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jess-Clark/528131375 Jess Clark

    I’m very excited for both! 

  • http://www.tracyfood.com TracyFood

    If they ever do one of these in Las Vegas, they should advertise it loudly for like a year in advance and maybe make sure a certain individual by the internet handle Roninspoon is not in town that day, because the man has been preparing for a zombie apocalypse his whole life…. eek.

  • Kimba Armbrust-Kohler

    why am I just seeing this now?  Ran in the Atlanta Race – I have never been covered in so much mud (and I grew up in the ATL) and had so much fun.

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