Nice and chilly October morning, the Dad and I drove up to just north of Baltimore to Darlington for a Zombie Infested 5K Obstacle Course run called RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! This was a race unlike any other I have run this year. The obstacles were challenging, but not so tough that I didn't feel I could conquer them. Each racer gets a flag football belt with three red flags, your health, and the zombies aim to take those flags. When you lose all of your flags you are "dead" and can run through the zombie sections without worry. At the finish, there are separate chutes for the living and the dead, though I think it's just to tally hoe many people make it through "alive."
Because we were scheduled to be transformed into zombies in the afternoon we had a few perks like a separate parking lot (can't be infesting those humans to early,) separate gear check and port-a-potties, and we were able to run the course for FREE. Zombie transformation can be found here!
 |
| Human Cages!! |
 |
| Scary Zombie! |
Right out of the gate, you step into a cloud of fog and turn the corner onto a field full of zombies. The first zombie we saw was a woman in a white robe, pajamas, slippers and almost white pupils. Most definitely a frightening way to start a race. I made it through the first section of zombies with all 3 flags. Woohoo! Full life!
 |
| Run fast, they want your brains! |
Besides the zombies, the other obstacles included jumping over walls (I'd say they were about 4-4.5 feet high, so it was like trying to get out of the swimming pool, without the water,) crawling under and through tunnels of various kinds, shimming under barbed wire, a maze, mud pits (so, so, so gross running after being covered in muddy water,) crossing a river (unexpected and very, very cold,) a smoke filled house with some kind of shocking action that I missed whoops, and the last two obstacles were a huge water slide and a muddy slide under and electric fence. Definitely a lot of things I have never done before, but it was so much fun. After the first mud pit, you stop realizing how dirty you are. I didn't realize how gross we got until I was able to shower back at home.
 |
| One of the various tunnel obstacles. |
The Dad and I ran the race together and I am so glad that we did. Since we weren't being timed (as zombies later our free race didn't include a timing device,) we were able to enjoy the course together and had a really great time. Definitely more fun to do with someone or a group! On the 2nd to last obstacle, the big water slide, the Dad lost his glasses at the bottom in the big pool of water. After we asked the people at the top to wait so we could search for them, he found them in less then 2 minutes. Quite a feat, considering you couldn't see in anything in the water because it was so full of mud. Being able to see, made being a zombie much easier later.
 |
| The Dad's friend on the huge water slide. |
 |
| Just after he slide through. |
 |
| No shocks for us! |
Neither of us made it through alive, but the Dad made it close! He lost his last flag in one of the last zombie zones. This was just what I wanted since we really were becoming zombies after the race.
 |
| I couldn't figure out why the Dad was so clean, but he slide on his back under the fence. |
After finishing, we went to the "showers" to clean off some mud before heading over to the Zombie Transformation Area. The showers were a long piece of PVC pipe with holes ever foot or so with water pumped through. Freezing cold water. The tennis courts and the grass outside of them were really wet, muddy and not a place to really get clean. But, we were able to get the thickest layer of mud off.
Definitely something we will do again! Such a fun race and a GREAT workout!
Since we weren't timed, I don't have any stats for this race, but here are five things I learned:
- Mud isn't that bad. And playing in it really reminds one of being a kid. I highly suggest it!
- Running a race without a timed goal makes the race very enjoyable. There is nothing to worry about, nothing to beat. The only goal is to have a great time and enjoy the course and the people around you. Truly awesome.
- I am not good at jumping over walls. By far the hardest part for me and made much harder when both me and the wall are covered in slippery mud. I made it over all the walls though!! After every wall, I felt a sense of accomplishment in overcoming each one.
- Racers of all shapes, sizes and ages run the zombie race. And LOTS of people dress in costume. (Check the zombie post for my favorite costumed group!)
- I was more nervous about losing a flag at every obstacle, then I was in the zombie areas. I was always checking to make sure I didn't accidentally lose a flag. It would be terrible to lose one outside the zombie area!
I think we are ready for the zombie apocalypse now! At least we know we will be covered in mud, tired and hungry after less then an hour of being chased by the zombie horde. I hope they don't know how to climb and we can build a tree house to escape. Now I just need to learn how to build a tree house.
