Run for Your Life! Zombie Marathons are Coming
Holidays are a great time to get involved with some charity work. Lots of non-profit organizations host marathons as a means to raise funds for their causes. Throughout the years, we’ve seen marathons take on a whole array of themes including color runs, bubble runs, mud runs, and plenty more. However, when October hits, all we see are zombie marathons! And who could blame them? Zombie runs are a fun and unique way to get people involved with charitable giving and with Halloween right around the corner, the masses are more open to adding a bit of horror to their lives. Most of these zombie marathons allow patrons to participate in a couple ways. You can dress as a zombie and chase down runners or you can try your hand at surviving the course as a runner yourself. Other walks or runs just require the participants to come zombie-fied to recreate a mob of the living dead. If this is the kind of thing that gets you going, then here’s a list of some zombie runs and marathons across the nation.
Delphos Zombie Walk – Delphos, OH
This will be their 4th annual zombie walk for the city of Delphos, Ohio. Each October, hoards of zombies come together to for their community. Last year they helped raise funds and collected canned food donations for their local food pantry. This year, the details have yet to be determined, but planning is definitely underway.
The 5K Zombie Run – Sarasota, FL
If you’re in the Florida area, you may want to check out this event in Sarasota on October 24. This exciting event offers lots of ways to participate. You can run the course, become a zombie, volunteer, or just watch from the stands. What’s cool is that they offer free zombie make-up application for their zombie participants though they are advised to come dress in costume. They will even have a costume contest with zombie hand trophies! If you won’t be able to make it out for that date, they have plenty other events all over Florida.
The Zombie Run – Temecula, CA
In our home state, zombies are taking over Southern California’s wine country. This zombie run will benefit the Kennedy Krieger Institute which specializes in research and treatment for children with brain injuries and disorders. Like the run in Sarasota, this event will also have options for humans and biters. Participants and volunteers also get cool swag like t-shirts, medals, and a backpack.
Zombie Race – Haverhill, MA
If you’re in the East Coast, you can make a whole weekend of your zombie run. The Zombie Race in Haverhill, Massachusetts not only features a 5K and 15K obstacle course; they will also have a campsite for people who want to spend the night on the grounds. They’ll also have a game of zombie tag which will last for 45 minutes and it’s zombies versus the human race. If zombies are left standing, then they win but if any human survives at the end of the round, the human race wins! Participants will have a chance to win a free entry to the race as well.
2015 Zombie Run – Bend, OR
This next run is scheduled for October 30 and will be held in Bend, Oregon. This event will benefit a local charity called Healthy Beginnings which helps provide health care screenings to help children prepare for Kindergarten. Unlike some of the other runs, you won’t be trudging through the mud to survive. Instead, it takes place through the city starting in the downtown area. Prizes will be given out to survivors who complete the race with their flags as well as to zombies who collect the most flags. They’ll also give out prizes to the best dressed zombies and survivors.
These are just some of the fun ways to have run around as a zombie this fall. There are plenty more across the country including the Zombie Charge in Houston, TX, the Mud Dog Zombie Run in Frederick, MD, and the Zombie Invasion Run in Wichita, KS. Do you plan on participating in one of these events? If so, let us know by leaving a comment below!
