Something scary this way runs
The season of Halloween-themed running events is upon us. Check out the wickedly creative runs.
Zombies, goblins and runners — oh my! As the season of ghastly ghouls arrives, local race directors are making the most of the Halloween season with fun race themes, prizes and candy.
For those who like a good reason to run quickly, the 5K Zombie Run Orlando takes place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 20 at Bill Frederick Park in Orlando. People can sign up as runners — or as zombies. The runners start with three flags that zombies try to steal from them along the course, which consists of trails through a wooded area. Runners who lose their flags can still finish the race, of course, but keeping at least one is the goal.
Darren Dietsch is the event director for the 5K Zombie Run Orlando, and he says that running the course requires a special sort of concentration.
“The challenge is to complete the race without having your flags taken away, which is much harder to do than it sounds,” Dietsch said. “Instead of zoning out, runners have to stay engaged and strategize how they will complete the challenge. And it is a great workout in the process.”
Dietsch says that the race tends to attract families who team up against zombie attacks. A “kid zombie” area is available for younger kids who may not want to run through the woods. The race is two loops so families that do not want to run through the woods the second time can end early and still receive a finisher medal.
“A zombie-themed run is just a fun way to be active but in a different way. We see participants laughing and just having a lot of fun,” Dietsch said.
For more details on the Zombie Run 5K, visit http://www.the5kzombierun.com/.
Ready for more Halloween-themed racing fun? Check out these other Central Florida races happening this month:
Garfield Halloween 4K Run and Walk
8 a.m. on Oct. 14 Lake Baldwin Park in Orlando The race is in honor of the iconic comic cat, Garfield, who celebrates his 40th birthday this year. The 4.0 kilometer distance was determined based on the milestone birthday. With trick or treat stops along the race
course, the top 10 males and females will receive awards and all kid runners will receive a finisher’s cape, instead of a medal. “There will also be a pet costume contest and plenty of photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite fat cat, Garfield,” said Natalie Casey, VP of communications at Track Shack. A postrace party will feature bounce houses, face painting and even more candy. Register and learn more at http://trackshack.com/ event /10352.