The Zombie Run

This event was really good and lots of fun. Many people were crushed when the original Run For Your Lives closed up shop, but The Zombie Run took the flag and ran with it, keeping the zombie runs alive! Apologies for the puns… honestly not intended.
This event wasn’t quite as good as the Run For Your Lives run, only because it didn’t take place in the hills and woods like the 2013 Run For Your Lives run did. Really, that is the only thing preventing the 5 star rating. The terrain was too flat, but the race organizers did a great job working to overcome that. Honestly, we were just really spoiled by the 2013 run location. I’d love to see them use the Oasis off-​road race track near Clearlake, CA again in the future.
That said, this event had bigger and muddier obstacles which were awesome. We especially enjoyed the big rope walls, rope tresses, spider web, mud pits and barbed wire mud puddles. I just wish they still had the buildings you ran through in the Run For Your Lives run, and the electrical wire.
It was a little too light on the zombies, but there were still many great «Ohcrapohcraphohcraphohcraph» moments where you had to sprint as fast as you could to get away. The zombies who were working this day did a great job and really made the race fun. They had great costumes, make up and were really in character. I saw several who were also «Good guy Greg» zombies — they made it a challenge for the runners, but didn’t obsess over getting as many flags as they could. They made the runners work for it, but would let them by if they could tell the runner was giving it their best effort. A small minority of zombies did cheesy things like grabbing flags when runners fell and were obviously hurt — but hey — its the apocalypse right?
Otherwise I can’t express enough appreciation for Human Movement management keeping the «real, good» national zombie run alive. Thanks guys — your hard work gives us something to train for year round, because we all know running sucks unless you’ve got a reason. Like being chased by a horde of zombies. Awesome.

** Review 800. Following my trend of each 100 being a Running event **
Run like you’re being chased! That’s my motto when Running Marathon’s and it really is no different in this event. 3.1 miles, 8 – 10 obstacles and mud pits and around 700 Zombies chasing you. The object is to make it through the entire course without being ”infected”. Each runner is given 3 life belts which the ”Zombie’s” are to grab. If you make it over the finishing line with at least one Congratulations, You survived!
This event you could either register as a Zombie or a Runner. I signed up as a Runner while Hubby as a Zombie (bless him, he’s not quite as fast and agile as I am).
Packet Pick Up:
Fast and easy. Not sure if everybody was supposed to get the $ 20 Über credit but my Husband got one and I didn’t. Hubby also didn’t get his Water bottle he was supposed to get as a Zombie (being out in the sun for 2hrs they are much needed!)
Volunteers:
Great! Very encouraging and upbeat. One showed great concern when he thought I was bleeding. turned out it was just fake blood from one of the Zombies.
Zombies:
Great for the most part. There were a lot of people that took it very seriously dressing up for the occasion and staying in character throughout.
However, despite the DJ announcing almost every 15 minutes that no physical contact was to be had (Zombies with Humans while trying to get their life belts and vice versa) a couple of female Zombies decided to tag team me — one grabbing hold of my arm while the other took 2 of my life belts before I got away. So not cool.
Zombies had their make up and blood done prior to the event which was fairly speedy. The make up artists did a great job.
«Woah. That’s one fast Human!»
Overheard by a Zombie dude as I dodged and sprinted past him while his friend chased me up the dirt ramp.
Location:
I’ve done run’s at the Raceway before and it’s an ok location. This run was originally scheduled for somewhere else and was moved to here. I think this effected the course.
The Course:
It was fun but a little disappointing after the location switch up. I was looking forward to the section where they were due to set up a street scene with car wrecks ect. With the location change it was turned into more of a mud run with Zombies as it was the same course used for Mud Factor and Dirty girl with much the same obstacles. Still fun though.
Personal experience:
As I was just there with my Husband and he was a Zombie I was running most of the course solo which made me an easy target for the Zombies (always safety in numbers people!) I had a great time, especially at the obstacles and I was pretty pleased that I made it to the end with a life belt in tact and bagged myself the ”Survivor” title. Good to know that should the Living Dead style apocalypse ever happen I will fair pretty well.
Will definitely do this event, maybe as a Zombie next time.