Would a free meal of your choice coax you to strap on your Nikes?
How about a pricey payoff for your wallet?
Or could all the money in the world not buy your physical exertion?
How about zombies?
Would an army of the undead breathing down your back scare you into your best impression of Usain Bolt? It may sound like something only found in the movies, but soon runners across the country will be chased across finish lines by zombies in a series of unique races.
The race, known as Run for Your Lives, is heralding itself as a “first-of-its-kind event” in the world of 5k racing. Runners will be tasked with making their way through the 5k course while being chased by waves of close to 400 zombies. Racers looking to compete for prizes will also have to navigate their way through 12 man-made and natural obstacles.
Although the adrenaline and makeup may make the event seem very real, the zombies thirst for blood only goes to a certain extent. Participants will be asked to wear a flag belt that represents their health. When zombies have depleted a racer of all their flags they will be labeled a zombie and disqualified.
The virus is quickly spreading across the country with eight races planned through 2012. Sadly, Florida residents are currently forecasted to remain safe from these zombies for now. However, Sunshine State residents looking to become infected with fun can make the short drive up to Atlanta to run for their lives on March 3, 2012.For those of you looking for a non-traditional running experience closer to home, here are some unique races that will be occurring on the First Coast over the next couple of months.
Jacksonville may not be home to any greasy decaying zombies, but the city is apparently home to a lot of MUD. North Florida has quickly become a premiere destination for mud festivals and races over the last few years. These events challenge racers to crawl, climb and swing themselves through mud-covered obstacles courses to get to the finish line. Here’s a quick look at some of the upcoming mud-centered events locally.
There are plenty of events on the calendar that are in support of cancer awareness. However, none of them quite have the flavor and impact that the “Donna” events do. Donna Deegan, a Jacksonville news anchor and cancer survivor, knows how to bring attention to an event. Her series of marathons and bike races in North Florida turns raising awareness for cancer into a giant party celebrating the strength of those who fight the disease.
This may fit the mold of a “typical race”, but there is one thing about this race that sets it apart: it is pure Jacksonville. The Gate River Run is Jacksonville’s premiere marathon-style event which attracts runners from across the world annually. There may not be any zombies or beautiful scenery lining the course, but what this race doesn’t offer in uniqueness it makes up for with the overall quality of the experience.
Most races have good causes; what makes this event different is the unique approach on promoting the cause. The race was organized to raise awareness for the 35 million Americans who have asthma. What better way to promote the fight for air than to take the fight into the air? Instead of running on the land racers make their way up business buildings and skyscrapers. Participants in Jacksonville will run up the stairs of Bank of American Tower downtown.If none of those events are appealing for you, or if you are just looking for more cool events, check out the calendar on 1st Place Sports’ website.
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