Races in Funny Places: The Zoo Run (With Spectators of the Furry Variety)

Welcome back to "Races in Funny Places," where we look at the quirkiest race venues on the planet. Today, it’s time for our third installment, and things are about to get wild, literally. In this edition, we’re talking about the zoo run, where racers find themselves in the unusual position of being the main attraction for a few curious animals. Zoo runs we'll look at include the Belfast Zoo 5K, also known as the “Mane Event,” organised every April by Monkstown Spartans AC, and the Cheetah Run at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, hosted each May by Eagle Athletics Club.

Picture this: you’re adjusting your garmin in preparation for a run, but instead of looking out at roads, parks, or pavements, you’re eyeing a path lined with enclosures. You take a deep breath, hear the faint sound of an elephant trumpeting, and realise, just as you’re stretching, that there are monkeys nearby already giving you a judging stare. This is no ordinary race, it’s a zoo run, and your spectators are of the furry, feathered, and occasionally exotic variety. Let’s look at the unique race that is racing through a zoo.

The Pre-Race Vibes: On the Hunt for PBs… and Penguins?

Pre-race at a zoo has a distinct atmosphere that most runners don’t get to experience. Runners arrive not to the usual starting line but to zoo gates, greeted by a mix of race organisers and zoo staff. There’s an odd energy in the air, part race-day excitement, part safari anticipation. People chat about their latest race or warm-up routine while behind them, a meerkat colony stares in fascinated confusion. At the Belfast Zoo 5K, dubbed “The Mane Event,” runners warm up on scenic, hilly terrain that showcases sweeping views of Belfast below. You can start to feel those calves tightening just looking at the route.

Meanwhile, at Cork’s Cheetah Run in Fota Wildlife Park, participants know they’ll be sharing their course with some of the fastest animals on earth. While there’s no actual competition between runners and the cheetahs (we know who’d win that one), the idea of running mere metres from the world’s fastest land mammal definitely adds a bit of thrill. Race officials make sure to remind everyone that, no, the cheetahs won’t be joining the race directly, though there’s always one hopeful participant jokingly disappointed by that news.

The Race: Dodging Ducks and Lemurs

And then you’re off, weaving through zoo paths where each corner reveals a new and unusual scene. It’s a standard 5K, but with a twist, you’re not just competing for time but also trying to keep from getting distracted by the animals. Instead of city buildings, you’re running past enclosures. Instead of cheering spectators, you’ve got flamingos, peacocks, and maybe a curious lemur or two giving you the once-over.

Running at Belfast Zoo brings an extra layer of charm. There’s something surreal about catching a glimpse of a giraffe in your peripheral vision as you take a bend. And when you spot a lion’s enclosure , there’s a flicker of primal motivation, nothing like seeing a big cat lounging nearby to make you pick up the pace.

The Fota Wildlife Park Cheetah Run offers equally unique views. At certain points, the course runs alongside cheetah habitats, with a clear but reassuringly sturdy barrier. It’s an opportunity to feel like you’re racing in the animal kingdom’s elite lane ,even if your own pace resembles more of a relaxed tortoise than a sprinting cheetah. The route winds through open areas where rolloway monkeys and harbour seals seem genuinely perplexed by these humans darting by at such a feeble speed.

Can’t Outrun the Monkeys

While the usual race has spectators cheering or handing out water, a zoo race has a different kind of audience, animals who seem simultaneously fascinated and unimpressed. In Belfast, a particularly funny moment awaits near the monkey enclosure. As runners pass, the monkeys often gather at the front of their enclosure, seemingly mocking the two-legged creatures struggling to breathe. You can almost imagine them taking bets on who will need to stop and walk first.

And then there are the ducks. Both the Belfast and Fota Wildlife races involve sections near ponds or wetland enclosures, where geese and flamingos roam free. Inevitably, a few overly confident geese take it upon themselves to wander directly onto the course, forcing runners to dodge or slow down. It’s a funny yet humbling reminder that in the animal kingdom, humans aren’t always the ones setting the pace.

The Finish Line: Safari-Style Sprints to Glory

As you approach the finish, you realise that, for once, crossing the line doesn’t just mean the end of a race. It means you’ve essentially completed your own mini safari. Instead of skyscrapers or local pubs at the finish, there’s a gift shop selling animal-themed merchandise and possibly a tiger glancing over in vague interest. And you’ve got the added bonus of crossing the line with the sounds of exotic birdcalls or maybe even the distant roar of a lion echoing through the park.

While traditional medals are on offer, there’s something priceless about the bragging rights of finishing a race surrounded by animals. “Ever been heckled by a monkey mid-race?” you can ask your friends, fully knowing they haven’t.

Post-Race Cool Down: A Roaring Success

After the race, many runners linger near the enclosures, still sweaty and medal-clad, recounting their favourite mid-race moments. At Fota, some take a post-race wander to revisit the cheetahs or check out the red squirrels, all the while basking in the surreal vibe of running a race amidst some of nature’s most fascinating creatures.

In the end, zoo races are a delightful mix of humour, wonder, and just a touch of surrealism. The Belfast Zoo 5K and Fota’s Cheetah Run remind us that a race doesn’t need epic landscapes or grueling conditions to be unforgettable. Sometimes, all it takes is a few twists and turns through the animal kingdom and a friendly, judging stare from a monkey to make a run truly memorable.

So if you’re up for a 5K with a side of animal antics, maybe it’s time to add a zoo race to your calendar. Just be prepared to finish with a smile, and possibly a flock of flamingos squawking in encouragement.