Big Sur’s Mud Run A Military Experience
The seventh edition is set for later this month.
The seventh edition is set for later this month.
From: Running USA
MONTEREY, Calif. — A military flavor sets the stage for the 7th Mud Run, presented by the Big Sur International Marathon in cooperation with the U.S. Army Garrison-Presidio of Monterey (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) and Cal State University Monterey Bay. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 8:00am for the individual competition, followed by the team competition at 10:00am.
The race course encompasses five miles of road, trails, mud pits, walls and other obstacles throughout the CSUMB campus and former Ft. Ord lands in Seaside, California. The event begins and ends at CSUMB’s Freeman Stadium. A increased field of 3,000 runners is expected for the 2012 event, competing in both individual and team competitions.
“Our runners love being treated like a soldier for a day in this fun event,” said race director Wally Kastner, a former U.S. Marine Lt. Col. “We have a large military presence from our local installations, the Presidio of Monterey and the Naval Postgraduate School, making our race one of the few fully military-oriented adventure races in the country.”
Patterned after the popular mud run at Camp Pendleton, Army and Marine drill sergeants bark orders to motivate participants along the way. Military volunteers will help with course set up as well as encouraging runners through mud pits, over five-foot walls, and manning exercise stations with pushups, squats and more. Many military teams will also compete in the event.
The 2012 Mud Run is on track to sell out in early March, but spectators are welcome at the race finish area which features the final mud pit with runners forced to “low crawl” under camouflage netting. Fees are $50 for individuals and $250 for a 5-person team entry, with a $10 discount for active military participants and students. Race proceeds benefit the Presidio’s Morale, Welfare and Rec division, the athletic programs of Cal State University Monterey Bay and the Big Sur Marathon’s youth fitness program, JUST RUN.
For more information, visit www.bigsurmudrun.org or call (831) 625-6226.