By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU, Maine — The third time was the charm for the successful WalkRunShuffle 5K held over the weekend by volunteers of the Loring Job Corps Center and Cary Medical Center.
Though there was too much rain for the first two attempts to host the run, the weather was mild enough on Sept. 7 to successfully stage the zombie apocalypse.
Eighty participants braved the wooded trails of the Cary Medical Center to run just over three miles and evade the groping zombie arms of 20 volunteers waiting to steal the belted flags around runners’ waists — with the flags signifying whether or not a participant survived the zombie apocalypse.
Looking at the running results, showing that 50 people survived the zombies, there was a smile in his voice as organizer Graham Warne said “Boy, my zombies really need to try harder next time.”
A career preparation specialist at the Loring Job Corps Center, Warne worked with Center students and staff alongside Cary Medical center personnel to make sure that the first WalkRunShuffle got off on the right foot — regardless as to whether that foot was living or undead.
With proceeds from the event going to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, Warne has heard nothing but good things about the fun, family-oriented event that brought people together to run for their lives.
“The final tally isn’t in, but we expect we’ve raised around $650,” he said.
All ages and abilities came out for the unique experience, where the walkers and runners evaded the zombies walking about the Cary trails reaching for flags. Some volunteers even put extra energy into their zombie antics, hiding behind corners and brush to jump out at runners.
With Evan Desmond of Caribou running the 3.1 miles in 21:41 – the best time of the race — perhaps there’s no motivation like Zombie motivation.
As the experience is unparalleled in The County, Warne said he had some participants who just wanted to watch the race play out, walking or jogging through the course without survival-signifying belts.
Whether participants ran the course in 20 minutes or walked it in an hour, Director of the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red Cross Joyce Knorr was thrilled that the community came together to benefit those in need.
“They went above and beyond to do something so creative,” Knorr said. The $650 raised through the event is enough to assist one family of four for a week, providing them with clothing, food and shoes.
“We express our heartfelt ‘thank you,’” Knorr said to everyone involved with the fundraiser.
