Physical challenge increases in difficulty, number of obstacles
Thousands of people journeyed to Sandy Run’s grassy site Saturday to run, climb, jump, swing and overcome 32 obstacles in the dark, slimy mud.
The Greater Columbia Marine Foundation held its 18th annual fall United States Marine Corps Ultimate Challenge Mud Run that brought out more than 9,000 challengers, split into teams of four with names that ranged from “The Mudder Truckers” to “Dirty Duos.”
The groups each took messy turns at the 5.2 mile-long obstacle course— designed to replicate actual Marine training. The day’s goal: to raise money for Marines’ families, Wounded Warrior projects and scholarships, said Bill Toomey, the foundation’s facilities and operations director.
Toomey, a retired first sergeant Marine, designed the course — from its wall climbs and rope swings to the Parris Island Grinder and Hamburger Hill.
Some of the challenges were scaled back from the actual challenges a Marine would face, Toomey said. For example, the Mud Run’s monkey bridge was 14 feet long; the Marines use one that is 25 to 28 feet
long.
The rope bridge on Saturday’s run was 20 feet long. The Marines use a 40-foot rope bridge instead.
Still, foundation officials say the challenge has become harder than previous years. Two years ago, there were 18 obstacles to fight past; this year, there were 32. “The obstacles are more aligned with Marines and their training,” Toomey said. “It’s more to match what they go through.”
But that didn’t discourage people from the challenge. Painted in mud from head to toe, Dustin Carlsen of Irmo, 51, said he did the Mud Run because it’s a good cause and a lot of fun.
“It’s tough, but it’s fun,” he said while sipping a beer after his team finished the course in one hour and 35 minutes. “It’s not just about the challenge but teamwork and commitment as well.”
Coming from Team Dirty Girlz, Denette Thams, 38, of Concord, N.C., had trained for the obstacle course with her team of mothers since July, and they were thrilled to work in the mud.
“We’re super freaks, and we want to do fun stuff,” she said.
Toomey said people come out here for their various personal reasons. “There are neat stories why people come out and run,” he said. “People could have beaten cancer, and now they want to beat the Mud Run.”
Deanna Babcock from Durham, N.C., came out to run like everyone else —except she only has one leg. “I’m not really scared,” she said. “I’m looking to do my best. We’ll make a good team and help each other out.”
The 27-year-old had her left leg amputated after a 2007 training accident, but that didn’t stop her from hiking through the course.
Officials say they are still counting the money raised in the Mud Run and haven’t released the figures yet.