The third-annual Blood and Guts 5K Run will have 15 obstacles at Bull Run Park on Saturday, Oct. 25 starting at 9 a.m. Photo Contributed
The third-annual Blood and Guts 5K Run will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. About 5,000 people are expected to attend this zombie apocalypse event. Runners will trudge through 15 unique obstacles while a horde of zombies shoots at them with “blood”-filled water guns. The low- to moderate-risk obstacle course race is designed for individuals of all ages and abilities and takes place every half-hour starting at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“The great thing about the Blood and Guts Run is that it’s a family event,” said founder Max Bawarski, 31, of Manassas, who wanted to create something fun and challenging. “It’s a great day for the family to come out.”
Highlights include a “blood”-filled foam machine, a traverse rock wall, a spider web, a bloody beam, a pumpkin smasher, a wall of death, a tire gauntlet, a bloody steeplechase, a mudslide, a blood and guts pit filled with spaghetti, a pumpkin guts pit, and 200-plus zombies (volunteers in makeup). About 50 trash cans filled with “blood” reserves will be used by the zombies for restocking and shooting at runners.
“Our obstacle course is focused on the fun factor as opposed to the challenging,” added Bawarski, who is a physical education teacher (grades K-6) at Providence Elementary in Fairfax. He was an All-American runner and track star in 2002; he graduated from Cortland State College in New York. “This run will be a fun event to throw into your Halloween festivities,” he added. Bawarski also organized his first Ice Cream Race at Bull Run Park with 3,500 people last June.
Prizes will be awarded for the wildest individual costume, wildest team costume, muddiest runner, and bloodiest runner. Four costume competitions will be held every hour starting at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last year, about 80 percent of the Blood and Guts participants ran in Halloween costumes.
In addition, three deejays will be playing the top hits throughout the day and Zumba dancing will be provided by Manassas Elements Fitness for Women on the stage. To feed the apocalypse, food trucks will be parked outside, offering pizza and soft drinks. A beer garden will also be set up offering alcohol.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit charity partner Susan G. Komen of Virginia and Maryland for breast cancer research.
Runners will receive a custom-made Blood and Guts T-shirt and medal when they complete the 5K obstacle course. Volunteers, who will receive free admission, are needed to be zombies, makeup artists, security, and miscellaneous positions. To volunteer, contact Max@BloodandGutsRun.com or call 571-969-4887.
The cost is $79 to enter the 5K run. Discounts are available at $30 to students, teachers, military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and nurses. If a child is 13 or younger, tickets are $25. Tickets for a team of three runners are $99. If registering four or more people on a team, email support@BloodandGutsRun.com for a discount. Check the website for the promo codes.
The Blood and Guts Race event will take place at the Bull Run Regional Park Special Events Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. Visit the website at www.BloodandGutsRun.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bloodandgutsrun.