The zombies are coming.
And they’re coming soon, on July 20 to be exact, for the running of Zombie Survivor, Calgary’s first 5-km race against the undead.
The event will be held at the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society, where the race organizers plan to make good use of the facilities. Kyle Fitzgerald, co-organizer of the event, said the 5-km trek will take runners up hills, through the stables and across obstacles. The first wave of runners — and zombies — will hit the route at 10 a.m.
“We have even got some fun zombie elements that we’ve pulled from videogames and TV shows,” said Fitzgerald, who founded the event with business partner and co-organizer Adil Hooda.
Before the race participants will each be given three lives — or flags — which will be worn on a belt. The aim of the race is to reach the finish line, dodging zombies and tackling 10-15 obstacles, with at least one life still attached to your belt. The zombies will be after your lives.
Runners can expect to get dirty. Fitzgerald said a water obstacle — dyed red, of course — will be part of the course, along with a mud pit for participants to trek through before reaching the finish line.
A grandstand area — dubbed the End of the World Base Camp — will be set up for spectators in full view of the muddy finale. Fitzgerald said food trucks and beer gardens will be setting up shop on the Ag Society grounds to offer their wares to spectators, runners and zombies.
Fitzgerald said there are more than 2,400 runners signed up for the event, along with about 450 zombies. Registration for the event is closed, but he said about 50 last-minute tickets will be available the day of the race. Runners can enter for $75 and zombies for $40.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will go towards the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, an organization that supports families fighting childhood cancer. The foundation’s funding is dispersed through four categories: camp and community, pediatric oncology research, clinical support and the Derek Wandzura Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The match between Zombie Survivor and Kids Cancer Care is fitting, according to Jillian Edmonds, the organization’s manager of community initiatives. Zombies are a hot topic for the children involved with the group.
“I heard about the event and thought it sounded so cool,” said Edmonds.
For more details about Zombie Survivor, visit zombiesurvivor.ca.
