Katherine Dayton

Have you ever considered what it would be like to run from a zombie attack. How would you make it out alive? Could you successfully run for your life?

Now, RIT has yet another event to help answer this question. At the Halloween Blowout 5k: Run for Your Life on Saturday, October 27, runners can test their ability to stay alive while running from volunteer zombies.

Global Union (GU) President and fourth year Environmental Science major Harshita Sood said that the organization is excited about working with other Major Student Organizations (MSOs) to bring this brand new event to the RIT campus. RIT’s prevalent zombie culture, including multiple Humans versus Zombies games each year, suggests that this event could be just as successful. That’s why, instead of their traditional Halloween party, GU decided to try hosting this new event instead. “I don’t see this happening at every school,” said Sood. But one of their goals for the event still remains the same: to introduce international students to the American Halloween culture.

The run will begin at the field behind Nathaniel Rochester Hall (NRH, 43). Participants will run all the way to Greek Lawn on a zombie-infested track while trying to make it out alive. The rules are a bit like flag football. Each participant will be given two flags at the beginning of the race, which represent their health. When both of your flags are gone, you have been infected.

Volunteers from OUTspoken, WITR, Student Government and the honors program will be playing zombies, fully clad in gear and face makeup as they try to infect runners along he path. Don’t be fooled by the fact that most of the zombies are fellow students. They have been trained, so you better bring your “A” game if you want to make it out alive, especially since Nerf guns are not allowed. According to Sood, the runners won’t be able to kill these zombies. Their only defense is speed.

If you make it out alive, or with at least one flag remaining, you may also win a prize. First place finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions will receive a $100 gift card. Second place finishers in each division will receive a $50 gift card. Even if you don’t end up surviving, the finish line will have free food provided by the English Language Center.

While the run is not a full 5k, it is still a little over two miles. The organizers decided to end the race at Greek Lawn so that participants could attend the men’s soccer game directly following the run.

Participants can pre-register at either the Residence Halls Association (RHA) or GU offices for $3, or they can register the day of the event for $5. Money raised from the run will go to a collective fund that will help MSOs plan future events. Check in starts at 10 a.m. on the day of the race with the race itself starting at 11:15 a.m. and ending around 12:15 p.m. Be sure to get there early to be a part of the pre-race games, entertainment and for a refresher on the rules.