The zombies are coming.
The second annual Buffalo Gap Historic Village Zombie Run will take place May 4 in Buffalo Gap.
The Zombie Run has three categories: Fast Food, Finger Food and Buffet Style. Fast Food is a timed 5K, Finger Food is an untimed 5K and Buffet Style is a one-mile family fun run/walk.
Race participants wear five orange flags. Every participant has a mission to run out of town to collect the cure for the “zombie disease.” On the run through Buffalo Gap Historic Village, people dressed as zombies try to pull off the runners’ flags. Finishing without flags means the participant did not survive the zombie apocalypse.
Heather Reed, Buffalo Gap Historic Village website manager, is in charge of the event. Reed said she is a fan of the TV show “The Walking Dead.” She is also a runner.
“When I came across a website for the national Zombie Run called ‘Run for your Lives,’ it sparked an idea,” Reed said. “A Zombie Run would be a great way to raise money for the preservation of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village buildings while providing a fun, healthy, family activity for younger generations that may not typically visit the village.”
The first Buffalo Gap Historic Village Zombie Run took place in Dec. 2012. Over 450 people participated in the running events and 50 volunteers dressed as zombies. Volunteers must have first aid/CPR training.
“All of our ‘zombie’ volunteers were members of the local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, nurses, doctors and many airmen from Dyess,” Reed said.
Anyone interested in running the race has the option to register individually, as a team of four or less, or as a spectator. The registration fee is $35 for individuals, $100 for a team and $10 for spectators. The individual student fee is $30.
Bailey Jarvis, junior Ad/PR major at Hardin-Simmons University from Abilene, participated in the first Zombie Run.
“I would warn people that the adrenaline involved makes it more tiring than your regular 5K,” Jarvis said. “It was really fun, kind of like a video game.”
All participants receive a free t-shirt and water bottle. At the end of the race participants are invited to the “Apocalypse Party,” which includes food, live music and information about emergency situations from the American Red Cross and the State Department of Health.
To register for the Zombie Run or get more information, go to https://bghvzombierun.webconnex.com/mayregistration.
