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Calling all fast zombies for the Trick or Trails Halloween 5K/10K in Breck

Frisco local Joe Howdyshell in his finest hillbilly Tinkerbell getup at the inaugural Trick or Trails Halloween run in Breckenridge. The run returns this year on Oct. 31, beginning at 11 a.m.
Drew Mikita / Special to the Daily |

Trick or Trails trail run

What: The second-annual Halloween trail run, a 5K and 10K race sponsored by Vertical Runner with costumes, prizes and a festive afterparty

When: Saturday, Oct. 31 beginning at 11 a.m.

Where: Vertical Runner, 301 N. Main St. in Breckenridge

Cost: $50 (adult 10K), $40 (adult 5K), $10 (all kids distances)

Costumes are encouraged. Registration is available until the day of the event at the Vertical Runner store in Breckenridge or online at http://www.active.com. Packet pickup is Oct. 30 from 3-7 p.m. or Oct. 31 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the store. For more info, see the Vertical Runner website at http://www.verticalrunner.com.

It’s a cool and crisp Halloween morning when you notice a group of zombies running like mad across the Breckenridge singletrack. Do you: A) run the other direction like a sane survivor, or B) embrace the craziness and join the pack of roving undead.

If you were Molly Mikita, you’d take the trail less traveled and make peace with your inner zombie.

“You just have to dress up for this,” says Mikita, owner of Vertical Runner Breckenridge and host of the second-annual Trick or Trails race. “Runners love to get dressed for races, even the ones they don’t need to dress for. It’s just something fun to do.”



For the second year, Mikita and crew at Vertical Runner are hosting the laid-back, costume-friendly 5K and 10K on Oct. 31. Both runs are held on the relatively flat and mellow Town of Breckenridge Open Space trails, with the starting line found just steps from the Main Street store. Registration is open until the day of the event for $50 (10K adult), $40 (5K adult) and $10 (both distances for kids). The price jumps by $10 for morning-of registration at the shop.

Along with the races, Vertical Runner will host a post-run party to keep zombies, Marios, retro ski bums and just about everyone else entertained after the dash. There will be spooky décor — expect to run through spider webs and past skeletons on the courses — and festive treats like candy and caramel apples, plus a prize for the best costume. There are also awards for the top-three overall finishers. Expect legit goodies: Last year, winners took home gift certificates and gear.



“Both years we wanted the race to be on the actual day of Halloween, so last year we had an evening dusk run on a Friday,” Mikita says. “This year it’s a Saturday, so we’re doing it earlier in the day for families and kids. We don’t want to interfere with trick or treating.”

The costumed run concept was a success last Halloween. It drew roughly 60 people from across Summit County, including regulars at the summer-long Summit Trail Running Series. This year, Mikita hopes that a morning start on Saturday will draw 100 (or more) runners.

But, a deeper field doesn’t mean the Halloween races will be insanely competitive, Mikita says, like you’re actually running for your life from hordes of bloodthirsty ghouls.

“If you want to come out and run fast and race, you can come out and race,” Mikita says. In keeping with the spirit of the race, Mikita and her husband, Drew, will wear costumes, although she’s keeping a lid on her alter ego.

“Drew is quite the collector of costumes,” Mikita says. “We have bins of costumes.”

So does just about everyone else who comes out. Last year, Mikita’s husband dressed up as a giant green dinosaur, while another group came as the unfortunate twins from “The Shining.” Local race regular Joe Howdyshell dressed in fairy wings and his trademark cut-off jean shorts, plus a beat-up Coors Light hat and no top.

“Maybe he was a hillbilly fairy?” Mikita laughs. “Everyone had a lot of fun with it.”


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