The first one was a mess. The second is shaping up to be downright filthy.
In other words, perfect.
The Extreme Sports Park in Port Angeles hosts its second Run-A-Muck Challenge, a five-kilometer romp through the muddiest, dirtiest terrain the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.
The course is designed for all athletic levels. Since it’s not a timed event, organizers encourage participants to develop their own challenges or simply enjoy the course at their own speed.
Obstacles include climbs over hay bales, hills and cars, a mud crawl, mud slide, beam walk and more.
New to this year’s obstacle offerings are a rock wall that participants traverse sideways, concrete up-and-over pilings and several more.
“They’re not going to have a clean spot on their body when they’re done,” says event organizer Kelie Morrison.
Also new to this year is an expanded age limit — it’s been dropped from 14 to 10, with children able to participate with adult supervision — and a “Business to Business Challenge,” where participating businesses with eight or more members receive 25 percent off normal ticket rates, down to $30 per person.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Fastest Time, Muckiest Group and Best Group Costume.
Cost is $50 for general tickets ($60 day-of-event), or $40 for students and active military.
The fee pays for a Mucker headband and Mucker medallion (first 3,000 participants only), parking, racing bib, after-race snack and beverage, secure bag check and more.
Morrison says about 500 participated in last year’s inaugural event and this year she expects a couple of hundred more.
“In the thousands of pictures taken, it doesn’t matter what challenge, what they were doing, they were smiling,” Morrison says. “Basically, being silly and laughing (is) kind of the whole thing.”
The event includes local food vendors and a beer garden. Dry campsites are available for $20 per space.
Purchase tickets at these local businesses: First Street Chiropractic, Dog House Powder Coating, Lincoln Street Shipping, Pen-Print Inc., Roundup A Latte and Sunset Hardware.
For more information, call Morrison and Extreme Sports Park at 460-2601. For information about group rates, call Roxi Baxley at 360-797-3799 or e-mail roxi@straitweb.com.
