The Blood and Guts 5K Race will include 15 obstacles at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. Photo Contributed
The fourth-annual Blood and Guts 5K Run will take place Saturday, Oct. 24 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. About 5,000 people are expected to attend this zombie apocalypse event. Runners will trudge through roughly 15 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 Blood and Guts Run is a fun event for any runner and for anyone that loves Halloween,” said founder Max Bawarski, 32, of Manassas, who wanted to create something fun and challenging. “A lot of our participants run the race in costumes and it is a blast.”
Obstacles include a creepy cargo net, rugged rope wall, blood water slide, beams of fear, terrifying traverse, and lurking ladder wall. New this year are the bloody balance ball and the got guts inflatable obstacle course. About 50 trash cans filled with “blood” reserves will be used by the zombies (volunteers in makeup) for restocking and shooting at runners. A rinse station will be set up near the finish line.
Bawarski says the Blood and Guts Run is a perfect event for groups and families. “We had kids as young as 5 years old complete the 5K event last year. We try hard to differentiate our obstacles so that everyone (no matter your age) can have fun and get a bit of a challenge,” he said. “Our event is also great for groups because it can be a great team-building activity for everyone involved.”
Highlights this year include: the Old Bust Head Beer Garden, vendors and access to food trucks, costume competitions, and a Zumba Dance Party, said 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.
In the costume competition, prizes will be awarded for the wildest individual costume, wildest team costume, muddiest runner, and bloodiest runner. In addition, deejays will be playing the top hits throughout the day and Zumba Fusion dancing will take place on the stage.
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.
The cost to enter the 5K run is $55 through Oct. 17, and $69 through Oct. 24. 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 or call 703-593-3173.