Want to turn your runDisney training upside down? Runners and others looking for a different sort of fitness challenge might want to check out the Insane Inflatable 5K, which gives participants the opportunity to climb, bounce and slide their way through huge bounce-house-like obstacles.
The Insane Inflatable 5K, which is set up in various cities throughout the country, returned to Central Florida with a stop not far from Walt Disney World this past weekend after first appearing in Orlando in December. My 13-year-old son and his swim team, coach and some brave parents took part in the Insane Inflatable 5K on Saturday at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, so I’m sharing details about their experience in case you, too, would like to give it a shot.
The course will be set up in West Melbourne in two weeks, on Feb. 13. Then, the Insane Inflatable 5K travels to West Palm Beach on Feb. 20, Jacksonville on Feb. 27, Fort Myers on April 16, Palm Coast on April 23 and Sarasota on May 21. After a break for the hot Florida summer, it returns to Ocala, Tampa, Orlando and Miami in December. There also are courses set up simultaneously in many other states so check the schedule here.
First, know that, like most races, registration should be done ahead of time at insaneinflatable5k.com, although there will be some on-site registrations available if spots are not filled up. There are a limited number of participants allowed per starting time, or wave, which you choose when you register. (The website shows how many spots are left for each wave.)Teams will want to make sure they pick the same wave and not wait until the last minute to register because start times are strictly enforced.
The full price of the race is about $70 per person, which I think most competitors would consider expensive. However, that price does include race insurance, a bib, a T-shirt, a medal, online access to any professional photos taken on the course and a snack after the race. Our group was able to use a Groupon to save about $20 per person, too, so be sure to check for your race there, as well. Remember that Groupons are only offered in limited quantities and for a set period of time, so don’t delay if you want to take advantage of an offer.
There is no admission charge for spectators, who are encouraged to cheer on participants.
Once runners are registered, they will receive several emails with race instructions. You can choose to pick up your bib the night before the race, but because of the distance to the event, our team decided to wait until the morning, and we had no problems. T-shirts are distributed at the end of the race, so do not plan to wear yours during the actual event. At registration, you will be given a color-coded wristband for your wave that must be worn and you must sign a waiver — no exceptions.
As with runDisney events, each Insane Inflatable 5K runner can check one bag with things they don’t want out on the course, such as a phone, wallet and car keys. Coolers are prohibited.
Then, it’s time to line up and get ready for your wave to go! When my son’s team ran, the participants seemed to be an even mix of kids and adults. There is no minimum age, but each runner must be at least 42 inches tall to participate.
They ran on concrete and grass to get to each inflatable, and there was hardly any waiting at each obstacle because of the well-planned starts. There are 1 or 2 water stops on the course, depending on the weather. The race culminates with an insane slide. At the bottom, finishers receive their medals, T-shirts and a bottle of water and banana to rehydrate.
After the race, participants can visit the midway area, where food trucks, merchandise vendors, games and photo backdrops are available.
My son said he would do the Insane Inflatable 5K again in a heartbeat. He thoroughly enjoyed the novelty of the inflatable challenges and already loves running. After tackling the semi-seriousness of the recent runDisney 10K event at Epcot in January, he saw this event as a fun way for him to keep on his practice regime while he’s looking forward to something more serious and challenging in the fall — like the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. That will be a different kind of insanity, no doubt.
That looks hilarious! Reminds me of that tv show “Wipeout” and some of their strange obstacles.