…with race rules to back it up.

Inspired by the “Canadian Death Race” – I thought the name came across as a little dramatic – I decided to go down a rabbit hole of ridiculous race names with the caveat, that the rules of the race actually back up the race name.

Below are 8 of the best I could find (2 is my favourite).

8.Mustache Dache (Nationwide, USA)

The rhyme. The pun. The fact that it’s tag line is “the nations premiere mustache themed running series”. Ridiculous.

Everything about Mustache Dache is perfectly absurd in the best way possible. This Movember-themed 5K encourages participants to grow—or fake—glorious ’staches and run with swagger. It’s “the hairiest race in America,” and you’d better believe people show up with handlebar mustaches, fake fuzz, and 70s cop sunglasses. It’s goofy, pun-filled, and all in the name of men’s health. Strong ’stache. Stronger branding.

7. Only Fools Run at Midnight (Various Locations)

The name dares you to not be a fool. Held at midnight and lit by headlamps and moonlight, this event leans hard into the ridiculousness of voluntarily running while everyone else is asleep. Bonus points for glowsticks, costumes, and post-race pancakes. It’s absurd in concept and beautifully self-aware in branding.
Here’s the Juneau version of the race:
https://www.raceentry.com/only-fools-run-at-midnight/race-information

6. Boerne 0.5K – The Underachievers “Run” (Boerne, Texas)

A masterclass “absurd” race. Half a kilometer. Donuts at the halfway mark. A smoking section. A shuttle bus in case you can’t finish. The Boerne 0.5K is the ultimate anti-race. It’s so absurd it doubles back around and becomes genius. The branding is proudly lazy, and the fundraising is legit. It’s everything a comedy race should be – and more.

5. Krispy Kreme Challenge (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Twelve doughnuts. Five miles. One hour. You don’t even need the backstory – Krispy Kreme Challenge sounds like a dare a college kid made up after too much caffeine. And they did. It’s now a massive event with thousands of runners and more powdered sugar than should ever be involved in aerobic activity.

4. Bad Prom Run (Multiple Cities)

Huge following on this one – https://www.facebook.com/BadProm/ (115k)

What happens when you take all the worst parts of high school prom and mash them into a 5K? You get Bad Prom Run: a full-blown nostalgia-fueled disaster party where runners show up in ruffled tuxedos, shoulder-padded dresses, and mascara-streaked 80s glam. The name sets the tone, and the event delivers big on laughs and tragic fashion choices.

3. Bare Buns Fun Run (Washington & Idaho)

Nothing like a 5K where the race bib is the only thing you’re wearing. The name is literal, rhyming, and delightfully unfiltered. Taking place at nudist resorts, the Bare Buns Fun Run is exactly what it sounds like: body-positive, cheek-revealing, and about as unorthodox a race as you’ll ever attend.

Unsurprisingly, there aren’t a lot of photos of this one online: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/108724/bare-buns-fun-run

2. Idiotarod (Various Cities)

A genius play on words – for Alaska’s famous Iditarod – but with shopping carts instead of sleds and costumed humans instead of dogs. The name alone is a masterclass in absurd wordplay. The race itself? Controlled chaos with a side of sabotage, bar-hopping, and “sleds” covered in glitter or papier-mâché dragons.

Worth the browse of their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idiotarodnyc

1. Not Since Moses (Five Islands, Nova Scotia, Canada)

You’ve probably never raced on the ocean floor – unless you’ve done this brilliantly named event. When the Bay of Fundy tides roll out, runners get the rare opportunity to run where the ocean usually is. The name’s absurdity lies in its divine overstatement: “not since Moses” has anyone pulled off something like this.

Beat the tide, and you win this race.

⸻

TL;DR:
You don’t have to run far – or seriously – to find races that lean into absurdity. Whether you’re sprinting in a prom dress, pushing a glittered shopping cart, or refusing to run more than half a kilometer, these events prove that the best race names are often the dumbest ones. And in that spirit, maybe the true finish line is just… not taking yourself so seriously.


Your race name can be ridiculous. Your timing cannot – keep it simple with zone4.