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No sun fun run: New tradition starts at McGuire

  • Published
  • By Capt. Darrick Lee
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  More than 1,000 people descended on the asphalt near the fitness center Nov. 8 to participate in the first McGuire Mud Run. 

A mud run is not a typical marathon. Its race course has many obstacles on the path, forcing runners to not only test the limits of their legs, but the rest of their body and mental ability. As its name implies, these obstacles usually involve lots of mud, water, and rough terrain, making it difficult for an athlete to continue the constant stride traditional courses offer. 

The 10-kilometer run, sponsored in part by the Burlington County Military Affairs Committee, took runners through a grueling course that looked very similar to a military obstacle course. It featured a mud pit, rappelling ropes leading into a wet creek bed, tire steps, a steep wall climb and rope bridge suspended over water. Civilians who pre-registered were allowed to compete alongside military members either as individual runners or as part of a team. 

The run had its fair share of serious, die-hard runners like Tadd Morris, who negotiated the obstacles and managed to win first place, finishing the 10k in 36 minutes and three seconds. However, not all were as serious as Mr. Morris. Many viewed the run as a way to have fun with their friends, completing the course while dressed up in costumes. Some people dressed as their favorite superhero, giving spectators a rare chance to see Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman and Supergirl all covered in mud. 

Others were more creative. The mud run had entries from people dressed in pajamas and clown suits. One runner ran the entire course dressed as the Burger King with crown and robe. Although the costumed runners didn't seem to finish as quickly as Mr. Morris, they seemed to enjoy the challenge. 

1st Lt. Robert McMenomy, 305th Civil Engineer squadron operations support chief, designed the unusual course. Most military bases already have obstacle courses on them, but they usually don't have the length (and mud) required for athletes to consider it a challenge. Lieutenant McMenomy worked with BCMAC to secure the equipment needed for the course construction. 

"We've been working on this for the past three months," the lieutenant said. "When we first started designing it, we weren't really sure what we had, but it only got better as we started getting into it." 

Lieutenant McMenomy was warned early that if the course wasn't long enough, hard enough, or dirty enough, the base wouldn't get many registered participants. A view of the starting line before the race provided him with the security of knowing he and his squadron did a good job. 

"We had 930 people register before today," Lieutenant McMenomy said. " ... Plus the military teams ... so I'm sure we broke 1,000 (people.)" 

Base personnel were in full force, providing food and showers for runners while rock 'n' roll blared from a loudspeaker. ESPN Sports Talk Radio Personality Don Tollefson broadcast his show live from the event, adding even more of an athletic spirit to the run. 

While rain pounded the runners as they came across the finish line, Lieutenant McMenomy gave his thoughts about the possibility of a future mud run, "I can definitely see this being an annual thing."