Racers enjoy playing dirty (but fair) at Vienna Mud Run
The first obstacle of Saturday’s Vienna Mud Run was a giant mud pit. Multiple runners lost their shoes when they ran through the mud pit, then had to either go back for their shoes or run the rest of the course barefoot. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Runners prepare for the YMCA 2023 Vienna Mud Run Saturday at Jackson Park. There were more than 100 runners signed up for the event, which included a 1.25-mile course with 14 obstacles. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The first obstacle of Saturday’s Vienna Mud Run was a giant mud pit. Multiple runners lost their shoes when they ran through the mud pit, then had to either go back for their shoes or run the rest of the course barefoot. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Runners prepare for the YMCA 2023 Vienna Mud Run Saturday at Jackson Park. There were more than 100 runners signed up for the event, which included a 1.25-mile course with 14 obstacles. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
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VIENNA -- The YMCA of Parkersburg held the third annual Vienna Mud Run on Saturday at Jackson Park.
The races began at 9:30 a.m.
The 1.25-mile course included 14 obstacles, the first of which was a giant mud pit in which many runners lost their shoes. They had to go into the mud pit for their shoes or continue the race without them.
"Some of the obstacles have a child version, for the children, and an adult version," said Criss Welshans, chief operating officer of the YMCA. "Other obstacles can be done by both age groups, but we wanted to make sure that everyone could participate in all the obstacles."
There were three different age divisions.
"YMCA is a family organization, so we wanted to make sure a family could participate," Welshans said. "Children as young as 5 can run. Our age groups are 5-10, 11-15 and 16-plus."
In these age groups, runners could win gold, silver or bronze medals.
Ben Bauserman had the fastest overall time of 12 minutes and 37 seconds. Spencer Rehl came in second with a time of 12 minutes and 43 seconds. H. Geer came in third place with a time of 13 minutes and 45 seconds.
In addition to the individual competitions in the age divisions, teams could also compete for the new Mud Run Cup.
Team Mind over Mudder won the Mud Run Cup with a collective time of one hour, 27 minutes and 40 seconds.
"We had 100 runners sign up before the event; we have had more sign up since then," said Welshans.
This year was Vienna's third annual Mud Run.
"The Mud Run was born out of COVID," said Welshans. "We wanted an event that families could come to and be safe from COVID risks."
Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.