PLYMOUTH, Ohio – Bruce Tanner, owner of Levels Gym in Plymouth and Willard, said some 5K runs and walks allow people to push their children in strollers while on the course. Those hoping to do during his race Oct. 10 in Plymouth might be in for a surprise…
“This probably is not that kind of 5K,” he said with a ghoulish grin.
In fact, people in and around Plymouth that night may end up running for their lives as “blood-thirsty zombies” will rise and take over the village for the 2015 Run of the Dead, which begins at 7 p.m. in downtown Plymouth.
“It’s a 5K run or walk that goes through the streets and kind of like the more abandoned places of Plymouth – the more rundown sections,” Tanner said.
The kicker, however, is that while scrambling by old factories and possibly through a cemetery, runners and walkers will be surrounded by actors dressed as zombies and other horror figures lurking around every corner.
Some of the happenings throughout the course are even staged, said Tanner, who came up with the idea for the race a several years ago because of his love for Halloween.
“Owning a gym, you can’t just open a haunted house in the gym, so this is kind of combing the two,” he said.
Levels Gym sponsors the Run of the Dead, which was first held in 2011. Part of the proceeds go toward local families in need.
The fee to be in the race is $25 per person or $20 per person in a group of four or more, and there is a costume contest just before the 5K.
Furthermore, only 200 racers – or “victims,” according to a promotional flyer – will be allowed to participate this year, a reduction from previous years. Once filled, registration will be closed.
Interested racers can sign up at runofthedead.com or between 6 and 6:30 p.m. the day of – permitted there are spots available.
“We weren’t even going to have it this year,” Tanner said. “The Run of the Dead is my fun thing – I mean, we never make any money off of it.”
But at the last minute, he said he couldn’t resist.
The first few years of the race, Tanner and a friend of his would dress up as zombies and go all over Ohio every weekend to spread the word about the 5K.
Last year, Tanner said 50,000 flyers were passed out by hand.
“There’s a group of 20 to 30 that come from Pennsylvania every year to do it,” Tanner said of the race. “It’s kind of crazy.”
The race’s website features a fictional story written by Tanner that describes how Plymouth became “overrun” with the undead.
As the story goes, “Every small town has its share of secrets. The village of Plymouth, located in Northeast Ohio, is no different. In October of 1977, an event happened that was so horrific in nature, that it stunned the small village.”
“It’s just a made up story for fun,” Tanner said. “If I had more time, I’ve made little commercials for it – some of them have been fun and some have been more serious.”
The rest of his story can be read on the Run of the Dead website, under the “About” section.
Levels Gym, a sponsor, was opened in Aug. 2010 in Plymouth and offers offer free personal training to anyone who walks through its doors.
“Basically, we help people,” Tanner said. “If someone comes here, and they have a question, we work with anyone.”
For information on Levels Gym, “like” it on Facebook or follow it on Twitter. Likewise, for information on the Run of the Dead, visits its website or “like” it on Facebook.
