For the third straight year, the Pace High School band will offer local runners a challenge by organizing another Zombie 5K on Feb. 14. However this year’s Zombie 5K, will be slightly different. Not only will the zombie-themed ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ 5K take place on Valentine’s Day, but it will also feature a costume contest.
“(The students) have a blast doing it,” said Tonya Westerkom, a member of the band’s boosters club. “Last year, we had more than 100 (participate).”
Westerkom said this year’s event was moved to February due to the band’s busy schedule in October, which is when the previous two zombie 5K’s occurred.
Proceeds from the fundraising 5K will be used towards the purchase of much-needed new instruments, she said.
Also newly added this year’s event will feature a zombie prom in which a king and queen will be crowned. Prizes will also be available during the zombie prom costume contest, one of those prizes will be a couple of weekend passes to Pensacon, Pensacola’s Comic-con.
Throughout the run, participants will have to keep away from the undead during the route around Pace High School. Westerkom said zombies, staged along the route, will seek to take the participant’s flags. Runners are challenged to keep at least one flag as they finish the finish line. Those without flags are still able to cross the finish line.
The route will feature several obstacles – including the zombie contaminated zone—and the post-apocalyptic safe area. Organizers said participants can expect to get dirty during the run, either by mud or by fake blood.
Food will be available following the 5K event at the following party, she said.
Registration is currently available online at http://bit.ly/1uGEKws. Online registration is available through February 6. On-site registration for the event will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on February 14. The race begins at 8:30 a.m.
For more information visit the ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ 5K by visiting their Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/1uGF0ve.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace BandÂ’s Zombie Run to feature costume contest