On Saturday October 15th Sarasota will be host to a 5k Zombie Run at Nathan-Benderson Park. A zombie run is where participants can choose to be a runner or a zombie. The runner have flags attached to them and they try to run the 5k without losing their flags. The zombies, of course, are trying to steal the flags from the runners. The event claims to have walkers, crawlers, runners, and other surprises.

A few hours later the same park will be hosting the 5k Colorblast. This theme involves the same concept of doing a 5k, but you can run, walk, skip, or even dance your way through the course where there will be 5 color zones. In these zones your body will be a human canvas for art as you are drenched in various colors. This is a feel-good fun run that just is designed to bring smiles to everyone that runs.

Missy and Darren Dietsch have been promoting themed style fun runs up in the Tampa area, but being residents in Sarasota, they knew they had to bring the fun here. Their first event was in December of 2012 and has now gone 12 runs later in their success in organizing these events. This is a family run business that involves a lot of friends and their own children to help run and organize It has definitely shown the results 4 years later. Last year they hosted their first Colorblast and proved to be a lot of fun. This year they are hosting the runs back to back and have created a “fun run challenge” to those that would brave the zombies and be used as a human canvas.

Of course, no run is complete without being able to show off the rewards for your work. their will be medals and a t-shirt for every participant. Those that do the “fun run challenge” get a special third medal for their extra work. Missy emphasizes that these runs are not timed, to accentuate that it is all about fun. Everyone is, smiling, enjoying time with their friends, and the sheer happiness of the colorblast. You are even encouraged to dress up if you so desire.

Interested?  It is still not too late to sign up. Like most runs, the earlier you sign up the cheaper the run. They also cannot guarantee there will be room to sign up on the day of the event. Run them both and and the second run is at a discounted price. Just make sure you sign up on the same registration. Nathan-benderson Park is a beautiful park with a 5.5k circle around the lake so it makes a perfect locale to host an event of this type in Sarasota.

The organizers have also partnered up with Oneblood since 2014, and still continue to support their efforts to recruit blood and plasma donations in our area. For those interested you may sign up at www.the5kzombierun.com/ or www.the5kcolorblast.com/. Currently there is a $40 ticket sale up until Sep. 21rst, and then it will go up to $60 (a $20 savings to reserve your place early). Add the 2nd run for only $20 more.

This will be this writer’s (The Thrillfreak) first zombie themed 5k and I hate running, but I am looking forward to it. The great thing about themed runs is it interests those that are not runners to do this. Hence, the reason I am signed up. I look forward to seeing you all there.

David “Thrills”
The Thrill Freak @TampaAmazeMe

David “Thrills” is an avid enthusiast of thrill parks and entertainment activities in the Tampa Bay Area. Be sure to follow me on twitter and instagram, or email me at tampathrillme@gmail.com for any questions or concerns. All pictures/logos posted are the property of the organizers of the 5k’s.