The 5K Color Blast is coming to Tampa (actually Lake Park in Lutz, but whatever) November 11th! If that date sounds familiar it’s because it’s the same day and location as The 5K Zombie run. Coincidence?  I think not.  It’s because Monster Runs LLC is putting on both runs / parties. They’ll also be in Sarasota October 25th, the day after The 5K Zombie run there.

Know whats cool?  If you sign up for both The 5K Color Blast and The 5K Zombie Run at the same time you get an extra ‘combo’ medal. So if you run for the bling you are in luck!  Check it out. You know you love your running bling.

What else is cool?  This is a color run / trail run hybrid.  You’re fine with a jogging or large wheeled stroller if you’re running with young-uns, it won’t be mountain hiking or anything, but it does add a fun change from your average run.

I went to Monster Runs LLC’s color run last year with my usual running partners, we had way too much fun. They may not make it this year though, they are busy preparing for a little sister they are expecting soon after.

In case all of that cool isn’t enough (you are being SO difficult!) I have a pair of tickets to give away.  The winner will be contacted next Tuesday, you’ll just need to register by October 1st.

Here! Enter here!

Can’t decide if you want to go?  Watch this and then sign up, don’t forget to use code ZEN5 to get $5 off your entry. You’re welcome.

Guess what time of year it (almost) is. Zombie time! I’m seeing Halloween stuff in my Facebook feed, I’m already looking forward to the Walking Dead starting back up, and it’s time to get your tickets for The 5K Zombie Run. Yay!

The 5K Zombie Run will be in Sarasota Saturday October 25th at Nathan Benderson Parkand and in Tampa Saturday November 14th at Lake Park.

I ran in The 5K Zombie Run the last two years, it’s a little like playing chase on the playground in grade school. But all of the so called adults around you are making horrible zombie jokes, and you will too.  Trust me.

The folks at Monster Runs LLC were nice enough to send me codes for 2 race entries to give away, and they can be used at either the Sarasota or the Tampa run.  I’m going to give them away as a pair, because who wants to face zombies alone? Just click the Rafflecopter link below and enter. The contest ends Thursday the 11th, I’ll notify the winner by email Friday.

Enter to win!

All participants will receive a t-shirt, finisher medal, tattoo, photos, a car decal and entry to the post-race apocalypse party. Yay apocalypse party!

So. You may or may have noticed if you’ve read much here that I kind of have a thing for color runs.  Why? Well, for one thing these are my running partners:

They love color runs so much that this year their birthday party was Color Me 4 – complete with a color run around the park.

So what’s the biggest, best-est (yes, that’s a word. Stop mocking me!) color run coming? How about Color Me Rad? Of course it is.  This year they’re going to have DOUBLE the color- powder AND color gel. How cool is that?  Very, that’s how cool.

Check this out:

OK, yes that would have been better set to Slipknot but I had nothing to do with the music choice.  I think the point is it looks like a whole lotta fun.  So you should probably sign up to win a pair of tickets to the Tampa run! The winner will be emailed next Wednesday morning.

Enter here: Rafflecopter Color Me Rad giveaway

Here’s the link if you want all the details, but here’s the basics:

Saturday, April 18th, 2015 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 U.S. 301
Tampa, FL 33610

Your entry includes a t-shirt, a pair of knee-highs, a color pack, the run of course and free photos.  I love free photos!

Just in case you don’t win, want to get your tickets NOW, or just want more than 2, here’s a code for 40% off the Tampa run. How are you gonna beat that?

Disclosure: I received race entries through the Tampa Bay Bloggers’s partnership with Color Me Rad in exchange for this giveaway and for writing a review.

Guess what time it is if you’re in the Tampa area?  5K Zombie Run time! (every time I use the word time without numbers Hammer Time comes unbidden into my mind, which is both sad and awesome.)

I did this run last year and the year before, and both times the only thing I had to complain about was that I immediately wanted to do it again. Badly. February 28th the zombies will be coming back to the Tampa area, and you know I will be there!

This time is a little different, because this time I was given an entry to run and an entry to give away for the run.  Lucky me, lucky you! If you’re in the Tampa area anyways.

Enter to win a race giveaway here: Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you ever run a zombie run? Long story short, you can run as a human OR as a zombie, either way you know it’ll be fun.  Even if you DON’T live. Which I haven’t yet.

If you are a runner you get 3 flags (like in flag football) on a belt and the goal is to get to the end of the 5K with at least one flag left.  Lost all your flags? You can pick up extras in the safe zones. Even if you lose those too you go home with a t-shirt and an awesome medal so really it’s a win/win situation!

They’re also having a costume contest, spectators are free, and there will be free photos after the race as well. Yay! They even have free gear check, which I think ALL runs should have, but they don’t always. Oh, and don’t forget the “post-race Apocalypse party complete with music, food, great vendors and a fun atmosphere.”

Check out their web page for more info, and don’t forget to like their Facebook page for updates.

If you aren’t feeling particularly lucky or you need more than one ticket sign up on Active.com and be sure to use code 5ZEN for $5 off your run!

The Color Run’s kaleidoscope tour is wrapping up.  The year 2015 will bring a whole new thing.  What thing? I don’t know but I bet it will be great.

The point is, you can still get in on the 2014 Kaleidoscope Tour in Clearwater, they will be here December 7th! Truth be told, I already ran in The Color Run Kaleidoscope Tour back in January.  But I had so much fun I’m doing it again.  In January I ran with my kids, this year I’m going to do a little more running and a little less fooling around (that last part was a was a lie) and run it with my sister. This is the same sister I talked in to doing a spontaneous mud run with me, I’m thinking we’ll have a blast.

The Color Run is still the only run I’ve ever done that was on actual roads.  It was pretty neat just because it was different.  Yes, I know most races are probably done on streets but not the ones I do.  🙂

So the question of the day is should you run The Color Run too? Well obviously I think so because I only write about things I like.  But do YOU think so?

From the Color Run’s site:

“Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of participants, or “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer. With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow:

1. Wear white at the starting line
2. Finish plastered in color!”

To be serious I’d kill for a 10 minute mile, but whatever.  Even if you have never run before in your life you can wear white and get plastered in color by the end of this run, trust me.  I’ve seen people walk the entire race with a double stroller and I’ve seen people actually race this thing but what I haven’t seen is someone not having a good time at The Color Run.  Oh ya, and I also saw a unicorn guy.  No, I’m not explaining that one.

So, if you are in Tampa come on out and run with me, if you are not in Tampa check out their site to see if The Color Run 2014 Kaleidoscope Tour will be coming your way.  Here is where you can see if they are coming to you and sign up if you’d like.

Don’t tell me this doesn’t look fun!  Come out and play…

Also, check out this DIY t-shirt weaving tutorial they have on their blog. I didn’t even know The Color Run had a blog, there is some pretty cool stuff over there.

Disclosure: I have received two free race entries in exchange for posting about The Color Run. As is the usual all opinions are my own.

Oh, I almost forgot. You can use promo code COLOR5OFF to get $5 off a registration to ANY city. Important: code must be entered at time of registration, cannot be retro-applied. Also please type the code in, do not copy/paste. Not valid with other discounts or promotions.

Have you run a Spartan Race yet?  If not are you trying to decide whether you’d like to?  Well, here’s your chance to see exactly what the races are like – from your own living room.  Kind of feels like cheating, but in this case it’ll work.

They’re televising races about once a month, leading up to the Spartan World Championship airing November 16th, which is being run is being run in Killington, VT. September 20th. That sounds like an excuse to have some friends over to get psyched up for running your own Spartan! (I don’t know if televising is really a word, but if turducken is in the dictionary then in my opinion anything goes)

Here’s the schedule of televised events:

Reebok Spartan Race Television Schedule: (All times ET)
DATE                            RACE LOCATION     NETWORK     TIME

Tues., August 19           Palmerton, Pa.            NBCSN         9 p.m.
Sat., September 13       Washougal, Wash.     NBCSN         2 p.m.
Tues., September 23     Amesbury, Mass.       NBCSN        10 p.m.
Sat., October 25            Wintergreen, Va.        NBCSN         12:30 p.m.
Sun., November 16        Killington, Vt.              NBC              3 p.m.

I’m not much of a TV person, I don’t even have cable, but I’d love to watch these races!

I have to say, there is a whole lot going on in the Spartan world right about now.  On top of televising races and the Spartan World Championship in Vermont they are putting together a Spartan Race Cruise in March.  Yes, I said cruise.  You go out and race on Saturday, and then Sunday they provide you with entertainment, food, drink and celebration. Talk about an after race party!

They’ve put together a giveaway for 2 for the Spartan Cruise including airfare and the cruise out of Miami (US residents only). Enter for a chance to win here, I did!

Has all of that got you ready to run a race yourself?  Well as luck has it I was given an entry to give to a reader for any open heat (non-confirmed start time) in any 2014 Spartan Race in the continental US., all you have to do to win is enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway.  The contest goes through Thursday morning, I’ll email the winner the code Friday, the 29th.

If you don’t win or if you need a ticket for a friend, use the code SPARTANBLOGGER for 10% off any race.

Disclosure: I have received a free race entry in exchange for posting a giveaway.

So here’s an interesting question for any experienced OCR fans out there. How do you prepare for things like climbing a rope or scaling a wall if you don’t have a rope hanging around anywhere or a wall to practice climbing? Somehow I don’t think burpees will prepare a person for such things…

Another great fun run is coming!

This one sums things up pretty damn good on their web site – “Instead of running FROM something, get ready to run FOR something at this year’s Color Me Rad. Run for the hell of it.”  Hey, that’s my reason for doing lots of things, this run is for me!

If balloon animals aren’t doing it for you (some of them ARE kinda freaky) or if you just want to get out there and get colorful for the hell of it you can find out if they’re coming to your area here and then sign up with  the discount code KINDAZENNISH15  to get 15% off.

There are a ton of great races coming to Tampa, I’ve managed to about fill up my calendar through March already.  What about you, do you have any runs coming up?

If not you need to get one scheduled!  I’ll help.  The friendly folks at Color Me Rad have been kind enough to give me a few free race entries to give out!  Want to win one?  Just go over and ‘like’ their Facebook page, tell them kindazennish.com sent you and then comment below letting me know you did for an entry.  You can also follow them on Twitter to keep up on their latest and greatest!

Three winners will be randomly chosen Monday the 27th and I will announce the winner here Tuesday!

Disclosure: I received race entries in exchange for posting about Color Me Rad.

In November I mentioned that I’m running The Color Run with my kids this year.  Only a few days left!

My son was excited, then decided he didn’t like running, then became excited all over again and not only is running with me outside, he also is running on the treadmill some nights.  I couldn’t be happier about how this is motivating him and his sister to take up running.  It must really be the happiest 5K on the planet, since I’m already happy!

This year The Color Run is going all Kaleidoscope-al.

What does that even mean you say?  Well.

Every registered Color Runners get an official The Color Run Race Kit including:

• A custom t-shirt
• Tricolor headband
• Amazing shoulder sling bag
• Tattoos
• and more! (I always like and mores)

That’s super groovy and all, but what about the race course you ask. Well.

• Epic Finish Festival
• Unique Kaleidoscope attractions on the course
• Incredible photo opps
• Awesome Kaleidoscope fun at the finish festival!

They used the words epic and awesome and I thought I was the only one who ever did so I’m kinda impressed just because of that.  🙂

Anyways, my Children of the Corn are running it and I think you and yours should too!  When you sign up don’t forget to use the code Color5Off when you register (it can’t be applied later) for a $5 discount to sign up for a run in any city and if you sign up as part of a team of 4 or more you get an additional $5 off per person. This code is not valid on flash city sales.

Need a little more incentive to join us?  How about a chance to win a free entry? Just leave me a comment below letting me know what city you’d run in and you’ll be entered, the winner will be chose at random Monday and announced here on the blog next Tuesday.

Have you ever run a 5K?  If you have kids do they ever run with you?

Disclosure: I have received a race entry in exchange for posting about The Color Run.

Yin and Yang – very loosely defined it is about two opposites that cannot exist without the other. If you want to take it about a million times looser, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

What does that have to do with anything? Nothing maybe.  BUT. The other day I mentioned that I’ve decided to get ready for a Spartan Race.  That’s going to require some hard work and dedication to do it right.  But hard work and dedication can get to be a drag, so how about some really fun races on the way?  How about a cross between a run and a dance party?  OK, I don’t like dancing but still.

How about an ElectroDash 5K?  Even the name is fun to say, I’m in.  From their web site:

“Every corner of the run is another party. You’ll run, walk, or dance 3.1 miles through stations of insane light shows, photobooths, neon madness, and electro lasers right up until the finish: the biggest party of all. So bring your camera and put your party hat on; it’s time to rage.”

Here’s the map they published of the Tampa run.  Do you see that they have glowing trees and floating jellyfish? Exactly. You want to go to.  Find out if they have a run with floating  jellyfish where you are! Then sign up to run, you can get 15% with the code KINDAZENNISH15.

You know I love obstacle and mud runs. But am I ready for the Reebok Spartan Race?  Mmm, probably not.  But it’s been added to my to-do in 2014 list!

Not sure what a Spartan Race is all about? It’s about finding out just how far you can push yourself – and about smiling as you cross the finish line. Well, that’s my goal anyway.

How about you, are you ready?

If you’re in or around Tampa, Florida here’s a great way to test yourself if you aren’t sure or to help prepare yourself if you plan on running it. Doing anything this Saturday morning? How about doing a Reebok Spartan Workout with the #1 MMA Welterweight Contender Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks?  It’s free to the first 300 people to register!  You can register here.

I’m tempted to go just so that if they do it again I can see how much I can improve between now and then!

If you ARE in Tampa, here’s another cool thing.  February 15th we’re going to have “the most unique Spartan event” –  the Special Ops Spartan Sprint Medal which includes a special finishers medal unique to this race!

Whether you’re in Florida or not, here’s a chance to win your way into any 2014 Spartan Race in the continental US. The people at Reebok Spartan Race would like to give you a code for a free race entry or you can go here to get a code for 15% off a registration!  If you aren’t sure if there is a race coming to your area you can check here.

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment letting me know if the Spartan Race will help motivate you to reach your goals for 2014. You get an additional entry for liking Spartan Race’s Facebook page and leaving me a comment letting me know that you did so below, I’d appreciate it if you’d leave them a message letting them know that Kinda Zennish sent you!

A random winner will be chose Monday the 13th and announced here Tuesday.  Good luck!