Introducing the Hillbilly Pork Chop Roundup 5K Mud Run

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) 124 views 

 

story and photos by Ruby Dean
[email protected]

Have you ever thought about running in a 5K run? How about one with numerous obstacles and you are out in the middle of nowhere? You even pay a fee to do all this!

The Hillbilly Pork Chop Roundup 5K Mud Run is a mud-crawling, pond swimming, run from hell through hillbilly country carrying greased pigs for no other reason than to have fun.

The Hillbilly Pork Chop Roundup extreme obstacle and running event tested not only the runners bodies, but also their mind. A portion of the proceeds from this slippery, mud-filled challenge will be donated to CASA — the Court Appointed Special Advocates program for children.

About 300 racers came out on Saturday (May 14) to compete the race held north of Van Buren off Highway 220. Waves of runners were allowed to begin the event at 30-minute intervals. The last wave was sent out at approximately 12:30. It took on average 30-45 minutes to run through the entire course.

Chris and Anthony Turner (brothers) came up with this insane idea to have this event. They went to a couple of similar races in Texas last year known as the Warrior Dash and decided to make something even better and more challenging. The Turner’s teamed up with Chad and Erin Partain to make the event a success.

Participants faced “16 insane obstacles created and built for you by a former Marine, a fireman, a true hillbilly, and their kin,” noted the event website.

The event organizers chose CASA, a nonprofit organization that helps children because “it’s a great cause that helps children and we are all about it!” They raised about $2,000.00 for CASA.

They are planning another mud run in September 2011, with new obstacles planned for the participants. The Roundup website will provide details when they are available, as well as the Roundup Facebook page.