FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Oct. 26, 2026) -- More than 100 Fort Drum community members outran the walking dead and took “survival of the fittest” to a new level during the Fort Drum Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Zombie 5K on Oct. 24 in Remington Park.
Participants wore belts with three tear-away flags that zombies lurking in designated scare zones could grab. To replenish lost lives, runners had to complete a physical or mental challenge at two stations along the course.
Devin Taylor crossed the finish line unscathed, managing to avoid having his flags snatched. Although he considers himself someone who doesn’t scare easily, the Zombie 5K got his heart racing.
“My adrenaline was so high out there,” Taylor said. “It was amazing. You’re not just on a run, but you’ve got to avoid the zombies.”
Taylor ran the FMWR Spooky Dash that morning and survived the Zombie 5K with a couple of his friends.
“Safety in numbers,” he said.
Taylor Melton and Allie Strife also paired up to navigate the zombie apocalypse together.
“This was not just a basic 5K run,” said Melton. “They got me good a few times right at the end.”
“This was something we could do together, be scared together, laugh together, be chased together – I loved it,” Strife said.
Strife has competed before in the Mountain Mudder – her favorite event – but this was her first Zombie 5K. Melton ran the FMWR Spooky Dash with her dog in the morning for a combined 10K and earning two medals.
“And I don’t run that often, either,” she said. “But I signed up to do the Triple Crown Series, so that will be fun.”
Sgt. Paul Baker, Fort Drum BOSS president, said that they offered a haunted trail event in recent years, but the idea for a Zombie 5K grew out of an IMCOM training forum earlier in the year.
Turning the concept into reality required leadership approval, course preparation, volunteer coordination and other logistical activities. Organizers walked the route beforehand, selected ideal scare zone locations, created props and decoration, and cleared the trail path to remove safety hazards.
“There was a lot to get done,” Baker said. “But we have a great team of BOSS representatives, and each had their own area of responsibility and were aware of what they needed to do to make this all go well.”
Dozens of volunteers arrived early to get themselves looking less like disciplined Soldiers and more like a horde of roaming zombies. Spc. Carlos Ferrufino, 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade H2F representative, dressed up like an undead butcher.
“This is definitely one of the fun ones to volunteer for,” he said. “We have a lot more props than usual. It’s the beginning of a brand-new event that we’re bringing to Fort Drum, and I’m pretty happy to be a part of it.”
The Fort Drum Directorate of Emergency Services also joined the fun, setting up a zombified police crime scene investigation along the trail to scare passing runners.
Despite the demands of preparation, Baker said it was rewarding to see the plans taking shape and provide the community with a memorable, holiday-themed activity.
“Number one, this is a good volunteer opportunity, so that’s always a great thing,” he said. “But our main focus is quality of life, and just having everyone come out and enjoy this is a big thing for us. That’s what we’re here for.”
Photos from the Fort Drum BOSS Zombie 5K are available at www.flickr.com/photos/drum10thmountain/albums/72177720336339746.
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