The Legend of the Course
Welcome to the Philip Barbour Zombie 5k, an adrenaline-fueled race that has earned a terrifying reputation as one of the most challenging courses ever designed. This isn't your average, flat neighborhood fun run. If you want to survive, you’ll need speed, agility, and a relentless iron will.
The Terrain
The battleground is a brutal, heart-pumping mixture of rugged backcountry trails and unforgiving road segments.
The Road: Just when you think you can find a steady rhythm on the pavement, the course throws steep, crushing elevation gains at you that will make your lungs burn and your calves scream.
The Trails: Once you dive off the asphalt, you’ll find yourself navigating a chaotic labyrinth of twisting single-track dirt paths, exposed tree roots, loose gravel, and sudden drops.
The constant shifting between the hard road and the unpredictable trails destroys your pacing, forcing your body to adapt every single mile. It is a true test of all-terrain endurance.
The Twist
As if the relentless hills and treacherous footing weren't enough... you are not alone. The woods are crawling. Hidden deep within the trail sections are packs of ravenous, flesh-eating zombies waiting to ambush you. Every runner will start with a flag belt representing their "life lines." Your mission is simple: navigate the punishing terrain, conquer the brutal climbs, and cross the finish line with at least one flag intact.
Will you smash a new personal record on our legendary hills, or will you become part of the horde?
Cost:
$35 for the 5k run/ walk ($40 After 10/16)
$28 for military and First Responders
$15 for the fun run
Awards: (5k only)
top male and female runners
top male and female race walkers
Age group awards (top 2 male and female in each age group)
Oct 31, 2026
Distance — 1.6K
Type — Running
09:15
$15.00
Oct 31, 2026
Distance — 5K
Type — Running
10:00
$35.00
Learn more about the host city, Philippi.
Philippi ('FILL-uh-pea') is a city in and the county seat of Barbour County, West Virginia, United States, along the Tygart Valley River. The population was 2,929 at the 2020 census. In 1861, it was the site of the Battle of Philippi, known as the "Philippi Races". Although a minor skirmish, this is considered the earliest notable land action of the American Civil War. The city has a weekly newspaper, The Barbour Democrat.
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