If you haven’t got your health, you’re a zombie.
At least, that’s the way the game works in the Run for Your Lives 5-k race coming up on Saturday. Imagine running through a maze of obstacles, dodging left and right, only to hear a blood-curdling scream come from behind as a mangled figure lunges.
The scenario sounds as though it’s straight from “Night of the Living Dead” or “The Walking Dead,” but it’s not. It’s what participants in the Run For Your Lives 5k race can expect to encounter.
On Saturday, July 14, at the Thunder Valley Motocross track, 701 S. Rooney Road in Lakewood, runners will tackle a whole new 5-k experience as they navigate a course full of obstacles and volunteers acting like zombies.
The race is the brainchild of Derrick Smith and Ryan Hogan, who created the event in 2010 and held the first race in 2011, just north of Baltimore, Md. The zombie theme for the race came from the TV series “The Walking Dead,” which had just begun airing.
“That first event had more than 12,000 people, and it just really took off,” Smith said. “We learned some tough lessons from that first race, but decided to expand the race. We’re doing 12 races around the country, and one in Toronto.”
Plus, a portion of every ticket sold will go to the American Red Cross.
The way the race works is that all the runners are given flags, much like in flag football, that represent their “health.” Race volunteers play the roles of zombies who try to get those flags. If the zombies take all a runner’s flags, the runner becomes a zombie as well, and can still finish the race but isn’t eligible for any of the winners’ prizes.
The exact details of the 12 created obstacles are kept secret so as not to spoil them, but runners can count on water, mud and blood. Runners can choose to not go through an obstacle, but that also will disqualify them from winning any prizes.
There is more than one way to complete the course, so runners need to be aware of where they are while they’re trying to survive.
According to Smith, such a unique event has brought out a lot of people who wouldn’t normally take part in a 5-k event.
Matt Fiveson, of Denver, heard about the race from a friend, and being a fan of the zombie genre, leaped at the chance to participate. He’s run in several races before, but nothing quite like this.
“I’ve wanted to do something that had a bit of the Tough Mudder feel to it, and this has a really big cool factor,” Fiveson said. “I really have no idea what’s in store for me, and that’s what is cool about it.”
Shannon Riley, of Grand Junction, has a bit of an idea of what to expect since she volunteered to be one of the zombies.
“I love ‘The Walking Dead’ and zombies, and this just looked like way too much fun,” Riley said.
She has been receiving instructions and videos on how to best approach the role of a flesh-eating member of the undead, and has to come to the event two hours early to be outfitted in costume and have her makeup done. The goal is to make the look as realistic as possible.
For those who don’t want to chase or be chased, entertainments can still be found at the event.
Aside from being able to actually watch the race, there is a “Safe Zone” that will feature more than 12 bands and food. Smith said he plans to make the event an annual one, and he and Hogan are already working on the 2013 schedule.
“It’s great to just be able to get away for a day, and go to another place,” he said. “I think we’re doing some good just by getting people off the couch and doing something.”
For more information on the Run For Your Lives 5k, go to www.runforyourlives.com/denver.