For those of you who are not runners, a 5k is the general term for a racing the distance of 3.10686. Thanks to social media, you’re well aware of friends and acquaintances that participate in these events. Are they running for a cause, or to show off that they can run three miles without passing out and throwing up?
Due to the nature of social media and the urgency to show off this “achievement” friends are running 3.10686 miles more than ever for the bragging rights. To keep things interesting in a rise of popularity, 3.10686 mile races have begun adopting bizarre themes. Here are some of them.
1. Keep Austin Weird Fest
At first glance, it looks more like Comic Con, but trust me, it is an athletic event.
Source: Keep Austin Weird Fest
We all know it takes a certain amount of weird to fuel our beloved city of Austin. So think of the Keep Austin Weird Fest + 5K as the ultimate celebration and toast to Austin—to what it is, to what its becoming and to what it will always be, WEIRD. Join us from 2:00PM to 10:00PM Saturday, June 28 on the green at The Long Center. There will be live music, good eats, and plenty of Weird Austin attractions! Bring your strangest, wildest, most outrageous costume and you could win a full year of free Amy’s Ice Cream!
Seems appropriate for such serious runners to compete in hopes of winning not only the bragging rights of being the biggest weirdo in Austin, but a free year supply of ice cream! It makes me wonder if there is actually a race. Imagine the defeat when a semi-pro long distance runner crosses the finish line first in record speed to LOSE the event to a weirdo in a tutu who’s just in it for the ice cream.
At “Keep Austin Weird” fest you can also enjoy the musical delights of several bands including KP and the Boom Boom, Hector Ward and the Big Time, and Fat Dad and the Ice Cream. Okay, that last one was made up, but Weirdfest is anything but. I can smell the weird from here.
Source: http://keepaustinweirdfest.com/
2. Zombie Race
Zombie and horror enthusiasts unite in the Run For Your Lives 5k. What makes this race unique is that runners are actually being chased by zombies. Enjoy 5 and 15k races, camping, blood, beer, military style obstacles, and live entertainment at this race.
Source: Zombie Race
"We’ve heard you: Your daily routine is driving you crazy. Get ready to enter a totally different world. Zombie Race is a zombie-filled obstacle run. You will be running from virus-spreading, blood-hungry zombies. Runners will have to do everything they can to conquer all the obstacles and escape the zombies waiting to eat your brains."
Source: Qinetic
3. Electric Run
At first glance, it looks more like a rave. Blacklights, neon, bodypaint, and guess what? The party starts as soon as you visit their website where you’re subjected to a background track of EDM without even clicking “yes please, I would like to hear a song right now.” This event gives a whole new meaning to the term “runner’s high.”
You run through large scale neon landscapes that look like a fever dream in Alice's wonderland.
"Electric Run is the World’s Premier Nighttime 5k run/walk experience, where the participants are an integrated part of the show. Featuring immersive “Lands” of light and sound that transport the participant into an electric wonderland, Electric Run promises to transport the mind, body and soul to a new world in a healthy and drug-free way. Participants are encouraged to join in on the art by lighting up with glow sticks, LEDs and anything else their imagination can conjure up."
Source: Electric Run
4. Krispy Kreme Challenge
source: Krispy Kreme Race
Raleigh, North Carolina is the home of the Krispy Kreme race. When the gun is fired at the start of the race, runners must race 2.5 miles from the N.C. State University bell tower to the Krispy Kreme restaurant where they will consume a dozen donuts before continuing with the race. Although it sounds like a sticky endeavor, the race is for a great cause, donating proceeds to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. It’s like a Jelly Donut with a philanthropic filling.
"Since its inception, the Krispy Kreme Challenge has been proud to support the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. The mission of the hospital is to provide the highest quality care to patients from all 100 counties in North Carolina, regardless of a family’s ability to afford the services. The money we raise goes to help fund additional equipment and support services necessary to provide exceptional care. It also funds innovative programs that aid in the treatment and care of children suffering from a wide range of illnesses.
You don’t actually have to eat the donuts to participate in the race. However, if you choose not to eat the dirty dozen, you will be considered a “Casual Runner” rather than a “Challenger.”
Do you have to eat the doughnuts? No. You can register as a Casual Runner rather than a Challenger and eat a few doughnuts or no doughnuts at all. You can also race back to the Belltower with the box of doughnuts. However, to be considered for awards you must be registered as a Challenger, eat all twelve doughnuts, and complete the race in under one hour."
Source: Krispy Kreme Challenge
5. Hot Chocolate Race
This race is either a 5k or 15k and has strict requirements on the sign up page for an expected runners pace. Runners unable to average 15 minute mile need not apply. (See literally any other race on this list.)
source: Hot Chocolate Race
At the start of the race, runners are provided with water and given a bib notifying them of their assigned start corral. The concept here is you are running to chocolate. At the conclusion of the race, you are rewarded with hot chocolate and gooey melty chocolate treats.
Source: http://www.hotchocolate15k.com/
6. Underwater Marathon
Bored of running 5k on land? Head on over to Hershey, Pennsylvania where you can put those miles in using underwater treadmills. The race is perfect with runners with limited mobility or compromising joint injuries.
Don’t worry that you can’t run 26.2 or even 3 miles on land. On a HydroWorx underwater treadmill— literally anyone can do it.
7. High Heel Marathon
This race is gracious enough to be considered a walk/run, (presumably for safety sake). The race is for a great cause, and features actual men wearing high heels. Sounds like fun for the whole family. In fact, families and strollers are both welcome on the tracks. The event is sponsored by the Western New England University Alumni Association.
source: Walk a Mile in Her Heels
As the saying goes, you can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in his or her shoes. So put on a pair of high heels and join us in a walk against domestic violence on Saturday, April 13 starting on the Commonwealth Lawn at Western New England University.
8. Bad Prom Run
Why go to the regular prom like the rest of the boring people when you can run it? The Bad Prom Run is an evening of corsages, romance, fancy outfits, and oh yeah, a 3.10686 mile run. The actual dance party is at the finish line. If you ever wondered what it was like to have a cheap prom date without a car, you can experience this and much more at the Bad Prom Run.
“Join the funniest, fabbest 5K ever. At Bad Prom, run through four light-up-the-night prom themes along the course, complete with killer soundtrack and photo ops galore. Then afterward, join us for a fantastic dance party at our famous finish festival. You’ll love the bright nighttime spectacle…and make memories to last a lifetime! “
Source: http://www.badprom.com/
