Rain creates perfect conditions for the 5K Mud Run

 

story and photos by Ruby Dean
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For those who competed in the first ever Hillbilly Pork Chop Roundup 5K Mud Run, it was a no brainer to return and run the new obstacle course challenge held on the banks of the Arkansas River. The event was held Saturday (Sept. 17).

The Hillbilly Pork Chop Roundup River Run extreme obstacle and running event was changed from last May’s event. This event included 16 new obstacles and a new site. The runners’ bodies were definitely tested as rain poured down over most of the runners all morning into the early afternoon.

The previous event raised about $2,000 for CASA, a nonprofit organization that helps children. For this event, a portion of the proceeds for the event and all the parking sales will be donated to Homes for Troops.

About 300 racers came out on Saturday to compete in the race. The runners didn’t let the rain deter their spirits. Waves of runners were allowed to begin the event at 30-minute intervals. The race started at 9 a.m., and the last wave was sent out at approximately 2 p.m.

It took on average 45 minutes to run through the entire course. The runners not only faced the elements of the weather, but also the predators in the water — one participant was bit by a gar — and a 3.2 mile run through the mud.

Chris and Anthony Turner (brothers) decided to have the race at a different location to change up the course and to add some excitement to the race. The 16 obstacles are: Dirt bike track, sand pile hill, mulch pile, culverts, river trail, mud pit low crawl, rolling hills, tires, and water cannon (triple threat), hay bridge, run through the brush, Tarzan swing, slippery mud bog, dried up creek bed, tire pile, rope cargo net, barrels, and 100 yd mud dash.

Maranda Orendorff who ran cross country track in college finds this obstacle course challenging. She enjoyed running the course in May and definitely wanted to do it again. She thought it was a lot of fun the first time. She trained for the course by using the Couch to 5K application on her phone. Maranda is planning on running in another race in October and her 6-year-old daughter plans to run with her.

The event organizers hope to be able to offer this event twice a year with one run held in the country (Country Run) and one down by the river (River Run). Winners of the races will be posted on their website late Monday (Sept. 19).