RUN FOR YOUR LIVES: ZOMBIE RUN 5K!!!

[Evicious]

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES

 

http://www.runforyourlives.com/files/6613/5964/8819/RFYL_Official_Final.m4v

 

(If anyone knows how to pull that video off the site and embed it to this thread, that would be awesome!)

 

I would kill - er, I mean, I would LOVE to participate in one of these! Too bad the closest ones to me (ie, within drivable distance) are at the end of 2013 or into next year. But I thought maybe some NF peeps would get a kick out of it, and perhaps post pics if they decide to participate so that we could live vicariously through them?

 

(Shamelessly ctrl+c/ctrl+v directly from the website)

 

HOW IT WORKS

 

What You Get

 

Runners:

• Free Run For Your Lives T-Shirt
• Admittance to the Apocalypse Party
• One free beer (subject to location)
• Race bib
• Race medal

Zombies:

• Discounted race registration for only $45 (optional)
• Professional zombie transformation
• Zombie t-shirt
• Free parking
• Free camping (camping available at select locations)
• Admittance to the Apocalypse Party
• One free beer (subject to location)
• Free snacks and water
• A race medal

 

 

Rules and Safety

 

To be able to participate as a runner or zombie, you have to be 14 years of age or older. For those not running in the race, you may attend as a spectator for FREE! No weapons or mock weapons will be permitted on the premises. No drugs, outside alcohol, or outside food/beverages are permitted on the property. Approved beverages include one factory-sealed water bottle, sports drink, or energy drink up to 1 liter in size. No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by people under the age of 21 or legal drinking age. For the complete list of rules and what to bring on race day, please click here.

 

Apocalypse Party

 

Waiting for you in the Safe Zone is the Apocalypse Party, a celebration of all things zombie. From when gates open till the dead of night, there will be music, games, zombie/people watching, dance parties, and much more for your entertainment. In addition to great food and beverage, there will be unique vendors and Run For Your Lives merchandise for you to check out.
*Apocalypse Party run time will vary by location 

 

Obstacles  

If being chased by zombies isn’t enough, we will have a series of man-made and natural obstacles waiting for you throughout the course. Jump, slide, and climb your way through our blood pit, smokehouse, and maze (amongst others), all while zombies are hot on your tail. Test your strength, speed, and wit as you battle your way to our shocking finish. Make it through this last obstacle, and you are finally in the Safe Zone.

 

OBSTACLES

There will be a series of man-made and natural obstacles that will be physically challenging, but not impossible. The obstacles will test your strength, speed and the cooperation between you and your fellow hopeful survivors. Work as a team. There will be mud, water and maybe some blood. You will need to climb, crawl, duck and dive your way to the finish line. Oh and there will be a bunch of flesh-starved undead on your tail.

Obstacles vary from race to race, but you can check out a preview three of our sweet obstacles below!

 

Our obstacles are designed to help runners escape the zombies’ clutches, so skipping an obstacle may not be in your best favor.

 

BLOOD PIT

Splash on down into the blood pit, where thousands of previous runners have attempted survival, and have ultimately failed. We had to do something with all of the extra guts lying around. We just hope you aren’t squeamish.

 

SMOKEHOUSE

The smokehouse is what nightmares are made of. Sure, you may have just dodged that nimble zombie back there…now do it in the dark. With smoke. And electric shocks. Don’t say that we didn’t warn you.

 

THE MAZE

The maze is home to several zombies who lie in wait for their next meal.  You’d better not get turned around among these winding corridors of horror. One wrong turn, and you’re zombie bait.

 

RULES AND SAFETY

 

Welcome to Run For Your Lives, the original zombie infested 5K. The apocalypse is here and it’s time to see if you’ve got what it takes to survive. Speed alone won’t save you in this race. Runners will have to navigate the series of challenging obstacles and escape the horde of the undead waiting to claim them as one of their own.

 

A few guidelines to make your zombie race experience as fun as possible.

*If you're attending an international event, please check with them as different rules may apply.*

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SURVIVE and REMINDERS:

• Bring an official form of identification (license, passport, photo ID, etc.). We will not be able to let you into the event otherwise. 
• A signed race waiver. Participants under the age of 18 must bring a printed waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian to the event or we cannot let you in. 
• Cash for food, beverages, and zombie gear 
• You will be covered in mud, zombie guts, body parts, and other apocalyptic liquids after the race, so bring a towel and a change of clothing (especially socks and clean shoes to change into). We will have a “decontamination zone†and changing rooms at the event so you can clean off and enjoy yourself. 
• Bring $10 cash for parking, and please have cash ready. We highly recommend you carpool. 
• Feel free to bring a lawn chair if you want to stick around and catch some of our live entertainment. 
• Check the weather before the event to make sure you are prepared (i.e., umbrellas, warm gear, cold gear, wet gear, etc.). 
• Be prepared to get your groove on. 
• Costumes are encouraged! 
• We recommend you arrive at least 2 hours before your wave time to allow time for parking, packet pickup, and travel to the starting line. 

RUNNER and ZOMBIE RULES:

• If all of your flags have been taken, you are NOT automatically transformed into a zombie and you may NOT take another runner’s flags, chase other runners, or pick up flags off the ground. 
• Direct and intentional physical contact with any runner or zombie is strictly prohibited. You are not to touch, hit, punch, tackle, roundhouse kick, slap, scratch, pinch, spit on, bite, or do anything harmful to the physical health of our zombies or other runners… no matter how frightened or frightening you may be. Those in violation of this rule will be automatically disqualified and potentially escorted off of the grounds, without refund. 
• Flags are to be visible to course officials and zombies (not covered by long clothing or tutus) and to be worn on the sides of the body. 
• Participants must wear their Run For Your Lives bib number clearly shown on the front of their attire. Participants will not be allowed to race without an official bib number. 
• Working as a team with friends, family, and strangers is allowed and recommended… it’s the living vs. the undead. Use your juicy brains and the ones around you. 
• Visibly intoxicated guests will not be allowed to participate in the race. Please arrive to your wave time SOBER. 
• Runners and zombies must be 14 years of age or older by race day in order to participate. Age varies with international races, so please check first if attending a RFYL race outside the US. 

GENERAL RULES:

• No weapons or mock weapons will be permitted on the premises. 
• No drugs, outside alcohol, or outside food/beverages are permitted on the property. Approved beverages include one factory-sealed water bottle, sports drink, or energy drink up to 1 liter in size. 
• No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by people under the legal drinking age. 
• No pets are allowed into the event grounds. Not even if they’re trained to hunt zombies. 
• Camping will vary with each race location.
• Participants and spectators must abide by all instructions given from the race directors, race staff, volunteers, and medical personnel. 
• Do not drink and drive. 
• Photographers and videographers will be stationed along the course. Participants, zombies, spectators, and volunteers must sign a waiver to agree to allow the event producer (Reed Street Productions) to use any pictures or video footage of the event for future promotional purposes. 

SAFETY:

 

Runners can choose to skip an obstacle, but since these are designed to help you escape the zombies’ clutches, it doesn’t bode well for your survival. If there are reasons you cannot complete an obstacle, due to medical reasons, please alert a course official to safely skip the obstacle. You may not skip an obstacle for no reason; there may be penalties. If you skip an obstacle, you will still be able to finish the race. Run For Your Lives strives to create a fun experience for all those involved. Please be respectful of those around you in the festival area and on the course. Again, any direct and intentional physical contact with any runner or zombie is strictly prohibited. We are serious about this.

 

[Guest Dirty Deads]

I've really wanted to do this, but you know the OTHER rules. For obvious reasons, the fatties are the first to go

[alexgator]

I want to do this SO bad. I just did my first 5k this past weekend. My family and I walked it (they all have various ailments and I'm out of shape ). But one of our friends who participated sent me the link to this and my jaw dropped. I'm hoping to be in shape enough to participate in one next year. There's one called The Zombie Run that's not an obstacle course, but just a run... from zombies.

[Evicious]

I've really wanted to do this, but you know the OTHER rules. For obvious reasons, the fatties are the first to go

 

Nonsense! It's the SLOW people who are the first to go, and those who get confused in the heat of the moment.  But if you don't feel quite confident enough to be a runner, there's always the option of being one of the zombies! I promise that there's a zombie out there for each and every runner (even the Scouts!) and people will be taken down for many more creative reasons than simple speed.

 

 

I want to do this SO bad. I just did my first 5k this past weekend. My family and I walked it (they all have various ailments and I'm out of shape ). But one of our friends who participated sent me the link to this and my jaw dropped. I'm hoping to be in shape enough to participate in one next year. There's one called The Zombie Run that's not an obstacle course, but just a run... from zombies.

 

Yay, more ZOMBIES!!! Too bad the one in New Orleans doesn't have a date set yet, or I might be able to sign up today! Tell you what though, I'll promise to do one eventually if you'll promise to do one too!

[cline]

I did it last year.  meh.

[Evicious]

I did it last year.  meh.

 

Meh?! Just meh?! You hast must needs to define this reaction, as I cannot fathom how race + obstacle course x zombies chasing you ≠ AWESOME?

[Claudzilla]

I just signed up for the Brooklyn one, and I'm really excited! It'll be my first race ever, so even if it is kind of "meh," it'll still be a big deal / blast for me! 

 

Anyone out there want to get in on the action? 

[cline]

I did it last year. meh.

Meh?! Just meh?! You hast must needs to define this reaction, as I cannot fathom how race + obstacle course x zombies chasing you ≠ AWESOME?

Obstacles not very good, zombies ok but often too aggressive (eg taking all your flags versus 1), crowd.

Be prepared for sprinting.

[Cheeky_Echo]

I did a Zombie Run in Raleigh NC back in April and it was really fun! I had never even done a 5K before and didn't even train for it and still had a blast (and didn't come in last or die!) I did it with a friend of mine who did "die" but we finished together, tried all the obstacles and honestly had a great time. 

[Evicious]

Guess the experience comes down to the individual race meets, but you get that with any public event. Anybody else have any experiences with Zombie related racing they'd care to chime in on?

[Hammlin]

Meh?! Just meh?! You hast must needs to define this reaction, as I cannot fathom how race + obstacle course x zombies chasing you ≠ AWESOME?

 

I was a Zombie for the Denver one last summer. I agree with meh. And they didn't plan our course very well, so it was roasting hot, no trees, and no water/food for the four hours we were out baking. We were all too overheated to run the race. Denver had it on the side of a mountain and the course required to to run up and down the mountain over and over. Did I mention there was no shade?

 

Anyhow, all that being said, I'm sure with a better wooded location and more access to obstacles it could be really fun. The east coast one looked like they had a blast. I envy them.

[alexgator]

Nonsense! It's the SLOW people who are the first to go, and those who get confused in the heat of the moment.  But if you don't feel quite confident enough to be a runner, there's always the option of being one of the zombies! I promise that there's a zombie out there for each and every runner (even the Scouts!) and people will be taken down for many more creative reasons than simple speed.

 

 

 

Yay, more ZOMBIES!!! Too bad the one in New Orleans doesn't have a date set yet, or I might be able to sign up today! Tell you what though, I'll promise to do one eventually if you'll promise to do one too!

 

Agreed!! I'm planning to do The Zombie Run at the end of October in Portland YOUR TURN!

 

 

I was a Zombie for the Denver one last summer. I agree with meh. And they didn't plan our course very well, so it was roasting hot, no trees, and no water/food for the four hours we were out baking. We were all too overheated to run the race. Denver had it on the side of a mountain and the course required to to run up and down the mountain over and over. Did I mention there was no shade?

 

Anyhow, all that being said, I'm sure with a better wooded location and more access to obstacles it could be really fun. The east coast one looked like they had a blast. I envy them.

 

Good to know... I never thought about how much it would vary by location. Maybe I'll make a whole vacation out of it and go to the East Coast.

[splatterU]

me and my wife, sister and brother in law will be doing the one here in AZ later this year.  Not a cheap 5K but looks like alot of fun, we are looking forward to it and will post pictures afterwards.

[Pnkrckpixikat]

I was a zombie in the DFW one that was in June, our course was really good, a little rocky. They lectured the zombies in the beginning to only take 1 flag per person per 3 sections so people wouldn't die too quickly (13 sections of zombies). My group would give flags back if we accidently took more than one when grabbing but I can imagine there are D**ks out there who would ignore that rule.

 

I am planning on running the Austin one in Dec, and perhaps being a zombie. I'm thinking run in the morning take a couple hours and be a zombie after I have rested a bit. I know I will die a quick death but it'll be fun anyways. One of my goals is to do it when I am in awesome shape because I would love to have all 3 medals possible (zombie, died, lived)

[cline]

The guy who took all my flags was forced to give some back by the other zombies!  LOL.  Which is kinda funny when you think about it. 

 

Our course was not great, the check in process and bag pick up processes were total disasters.  We'd been in a freezing lake for quite a while and it was chilly out and we had to wait 90 mins to get our bags with dry clothes.  It was really bad. 

 

Some obstacles weren't even fully set up. 

 

I was also unimpressed by the people there.  And by that I DO NOT mean athleticism.  I mean attitude.  A lot of people were already drunk which makes things dangerous for others.  A lot were just clueless.

 

I say if you go to an event like this, be sober, be there to have a good time, and be really invested in  it - don't skip all the obstacles, don't push, don't shove, give it a good go.  I've been to other races and the crowds were great. 

[Quinn]

I want to do this SO bad. I just did my first 5k this past weekend. My family and I walked it (they all have various ailments and I'm out of shape ). But one of our friends who participated sent me the link to this and my jaw dropped. I'm hoping to be in shape enough to participate in one next year. There's one called The Zombie Run that's not an obstacle course, but just a run... from zombies.

 

I have done one of these and this is the key.  Walk in between zombie free areas and save your running through the zombie bits!  It is the way to survive.  On another note, I've done a lot of runs in my day and I was excedingly unhappy with the way this was organized.  They won't let you take food or drinks in the race area which is compltely absurb and then the only food and drink they sell is very unhealthy!  They also had little to no shade areas to wait before your race time so you basically become dehydrated before you start.  The zombie thing is an awesome idea but this company does not care about runners and only out to make money.  I am beyond dissapointed in how they do things.  I have never seen a run cordon off the start area so you have to spend money.  Crazy.

[superjenni]

I did it last year.  meh.

 

I did the very first one they ever put on.  My god what a clusterfudge.  300 lb giant zombies tackling 100 lb girls.  Ankles snapping.  People not even getting to compete because the traffic was backed up for 6 hours.  The only reason I didn't have issues was because I picked a super early start time.

[Guest Dirty Deads]

I did the very first one they ever put on.  My god what a clusterfudge.  300 lb giant zombies tackling 100 lb girls.  Ankles snapping.  People not even getting to compete because the traffic was backed up for 6 hours.  The only reason I didn't have issues was because I picked a super early start time.

Well, I can honestly say that sounds EXACTLY like what would happen during the zombie apocalypse.

[superjenni]

Well, I can honestly say that sounds EXACTLY like what would happen during the zombie apocalypse.

 

Ha.  So true.

[Pnkrckpixikat]

Maybe they have learned from these early runs, they were handing out bottles of water and granola bars to us.

[krebsicle]

I just signed up for the Brooklyn one, and I'm really excited! It'll be my first race ever, so even if it is kind of "meh," it'll still be a big deal / blast for me! 

 

Anyone out there want to get in on the action? 

 

I'm planning on signing up for the Brooklyn one as well! This has been my motivation to keep training with my running, haha.

[Relosa]

My girlfriend and I are doing the New England one next month.  Reading the responses here I'm not that surprised to see what was written.  The New England course this year has changed locations 3 or 4 times since we signed up back in February. I'm still looking forward to it though!  I just hope my girlfriend can keep up!

[FalseAesop]

Well I've been signed up for the one in Byron I'll for a few months, it's next month. I'll report on how it is and how it compared to the Warrior dash. I've been looking forward to this, so I hope the stories here were terrible exceptions.

[gibnic]

I am doing the one in San Bernardino next month along with a fellow NF member, my hubby and another friend. I am a little worried about it now. it looks like a lot of fun and I am working hard to get ready, but now I am a bit scared that it is going to be a wash... =/ It's my first 5k... I am kinda scared that some 300lb zombie is going to snap my ankle now! Lol

[Claudzilla]

I'm planning on signing up for the Brooklyn one as well! This has been my motivation to keep training with my running, haha.

 

Excellent! I know what you mean - I hate the thought of being run down by a hipster zombie, and that definitely has me hitting the park on a regular basis.  Good luck!!!

 

All these bad reviews are making me nervous, but I'm hoping that some of the kinks will be worked out by the time my race rolls around - it's in late October and it's at an athletic center, so I'm hoping things will work out!