Welcome to the creepiest time of year. October is a ghoulish month that awakens our senses after a long, hot and overly wet summer. As the Florida flooding subsides and the humidity fades, that is when the freaks and frights return in the night. The question is, are you ready for some challenges that will chill the bones?
I present to you 2 amazing events to fill your party calendar for All Hallows Eve. Both combine the outdoors fun of athletic exhilaration with the unnerving allure of costumed creativity. The events take place on back to back weekends, one involves running and one involves biking but both of them embody the essential spirit of Samhain.
The first great challenge is Howl at the Moon 2, a sequel to the last year's Halloween 5k trail run. However, this is no ordinary jog in the park. Just before the sunrise on Oct 19th, hundreds of costumed runners will line up at Ann Dever park in Englewood and then charge into a haunted forest full of Zombies! You will run faster then you ever dreamed when an army of undead come out of the bushes desperately seeking the blood of the living.
2012 was the first running of this event and the turn out was fantastic (Read the story here). It was my very first 5k run and this year it will be my wife's first. If ever there was a good place to start a fun hobby, this is where you want to do it. Enter the costume contest, run the race and enjoy some Bocca Lupo Coal Fired Pizza. This year's event is being sponsored by a truck load of companies so there will also be goodie bags, t-shirts, cool medals and prize raffles.
Get details and updates at the Howl at the Moon Facebook Page.
One week later you are invited to the city of Venice for The Great Pumpkin Challenge. Those feisty devils at SCORR (Sarasota County Off Road Riders) have organized another brilliant island pub ride but this one has a Halloween theme. On Oct 26th at 7pm, costumed cyclists of all types will meet at the Venice Gazebo where they will be handed a card listing the items to scavenge for during the ride. The group will travel from pub to pub reaching their goals while stopping to enjoy various brews and ales.
The last pub ride was an absolute success with over 60 cyclists filling the city streets (Read the story here). From that event came an overwhelming demand for another such gathering, you will not want to miss it.
Get details and updates at the SCORR Facebook Page.
Never run a race before? No problem, it's a beautiful walk through the woods. Don't have a nice road bike? No problem, you can ride a mountain bike, a beach cruiser, a BMX, all are welcome!
What truly makes these events special is the amount of community participation. Southwest Florida is a small part of a big state and those who live here exist with only a couple degrees of separation from one another. At events like these we get to connect with our neighbors, our athletic peers and those who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle that great weather allows. Come join us for these two great events and don't forget to wear a costume.
There are so many fun Halloween activities on the east coast! When I visit family in NY, we always make a stop at one of the best haunted attractions in NJ. Its a great Halloween tradition!
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