Cathy Dobson
It shouldn’t be hard to push through a five-kilometre run with zombies at your heels, says Lynae Morningstar, organizer of a new Halloween fun run.
Morningstar came up with the concept when deciding to raise money for literacy and health-related causes.
When the living run the route in Canatara Park the morning of Saturday, Oct. 31 they’ll be chased by zombies waiting along the way.
Each runner will be given a flag belt with three flags that can be ripped off by bloodthirsty zombies.
“If you make it to the finish line with a flag left you’re a survivor and you get bragging rights,” says Morningstar, who owns Sarnia Curves on Lambton Mall Road. “If not, you’re infected.”
So far, 20 of the run’s 140 registrants have signed on as zombies and will be provided appropriate makeup at the event by The Painted Cat.
A surprising number of parents have opted to make the first annual Zombie Fun Run a family event, signing up their children for $10 each. Only eight and older are eligible.
“And we leave it up to parental discretion because we don’t want anyone to be frightened,” said Morningstar.
She is working on obstacles to add to the five-kilometre course, but isn’t ready to announce them.
“There won’t be anything too crazy,” she said. “But a little climbing will be involved.”
Her goal is some old-fashioned Halloween fun to raise money for good causes, including the Organization for Literacy in Lambton and River City Community Centre.
Registration for adults is $54.
“I love the idea of fun runs because they get people moving,” Morningstar added. “I was thinking about the trend of fun runs and the trend of zombies. The two seemed like an obvious pair.
“It's a huge undertaking but I love doing stuff like this."
Sarnia’s first Zombie Fun Run will also feature a one-kilometre ‘Trek or Treat Treasure Hunt Trail’ for the kids.
Everyone is encouraged to dress in costume.
Details are available on Facebook (The Running Dead: 5k Zombie Fun Run); or at https://goo.gl/mN9Y2G.