Red Run V: The Hunt (Storey County, Nevada)

Note: Picture courtesy of Google

Always on the lookout for interesting new adventures, I read about a zombie-themed "race" held in Virginia City for the last few years. After researching it further, it sounded like an exciting time and so I assembled a team of friends to participate. While we had some basic idea understanding that it was a combination race and puzzle room, it turned out to be a great experience.

I met up with my friends Lacey and Gen near the starting area. We decided to call ourselves the Whiskey Rebels, as Lacey and I had met through a series of whiskey classes a couple of years ago. Our three-person team, along with several others were guided into a metal storage unit (the kind you see on trains or cargo ships) and the door was sealed behind us. As we awaited the start of the race, the "zombies" began shaking the container, scratching at the walls, and making all sorts of hideous sounds. While not exactly scary, it did add a lot to the immersion.

As the gun sounded and the container doors opened (opposite end from where we entered), the fifty or so runners poured out onto the streets of downtown Virginia City and right into a zombie horde. Zombie attacks are simulated by use of flags (like those used in flag football). Each team is assigned a set number of flags at the beginning and zombies will try to take the flags. For each flag lost during the event, 2:00 minutes is added to the team's final time.

I was able to bob and weave my way through the undead, but each of my team-mates lost one flag. After getting to a safe zone where the zombies were not allowed to attack, we reviewed the puzzle materials provided and set a course of action. The entire event revolves around following a series of clues in and around the historical structures of Virginia City, the queen of all boom-towns. To keep the event challenging and exciting, zombies are strategically placed around some of the important clues, and while their mobility is somewhat restricted, they do make a good chase of the living.

We did "run" a little bit, but the majority of our efforts were put towards solving the mystery and finding the location of the zombie-antidote, which is the overall goal of Red Run. Along the way, we visited a dozen or so historic residence and businesses. From a mine shaft to an opera house to the old jail, the clues finally lead us to the cure. As it turns out, we did really well and finished in 3rd place. Had we kept all of our flags away from the zombies, we would have won the whole event. Even so, it was a terrific amount of fun and I look forward to doing it again next year.