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It’s time to get muddy!

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Running a 10K race is not an event for the faint of heart. Participants need to be in good shape, well-prepared and hydrated.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is hosting a race that puts normal pavement-pounding races to shame. The annual "Beast of the East" Mud Run will be held Saturday at Doughboy Field as more than 3,000 participants run the 6.2-mile course.

This year's run is expected to be more of a challenge than previously designed courses, leaving runners feeling proud to complete such a grueling event.

"This course is much more difficult than last year's," said Senior Airman Dusty West, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron. "It will definitely be more of a thrill when each person is done. Everyone will leave feeling a great sense of accomplishment."

A mock race was run Sept. 1 by volunteers from units throughout the joint base to test the safety conditions and challenges runners will face during the actual competition. Participants gave feedback to help enhance and fix any issues faced while running the course.

Many of the participants in the mock run have a passion for distance running and even they found it to be extremely challenging.

"I've run in just about every weather condition before, but this was by far the hardest run I've ever participated in," said Airman 1st Class Dennis Sloan, 87th Air Base Wing public affairs and former collegiate long-distance runner. "Only a person with a passion for making others suffer could have made this course."

Mud won't be the only challenge runners will face throughout this event. The course has 17 strategically-placed obstacles contestants will have to conquer such as the "Heartbreak Ridge," a steep 12 foot rope climb up a wooden obstacle.

Between running on gravel, sloshing through deep swamps and climbing over dirt hills just to land in a mud-filled trench, there won't be moment where runners are at ease.

"I love challenges and this course definitely left me out of breath and feeling completely exhausted the entire time," said Sloan.

The Mud Run is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and is open to spectators ready for a good time. Gates open at 7 a.m., so get here early to get a good seat.