2017 Mud Run offers more than ever before
Hubie Cushman is pictured working his way down the Indian Mud Run’s floating wall obstacle that he created. The obstacle will be featured at this year’s event, which will be held Saturday, June 24. The obstacle race will start and end at the former Hilltop Golf Course across from Lake Park. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – The sixth annual Indian Mud Run will feature not one, but two courses this year.
Racers can choose between a little longer than a 10K challenge with approximately 50 obstacles or a slightly longer than 5K with around 30 obstacles. For the first time ever, the Indian Mud Run also is a qualifying race for the world championships.
“The hardcore racers wanted more, but we still wanted to offer something for locals or non-competitors who wanted to do the course,” said Kirby Hasseman who serves on the Indian Mud Run committee. “We challenged Hubie to do that and what he accomplished was not a little feat. Being able to offer two courses is amazing.”
The Indian Mud Run will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at Lake Park. Racers and spectators will park at the park and be shuttled up to the former Hilltop Golf Course across the road where the race will begin. A limited number of premium parking spots will be available up at Hilltop.
So far more than 500 people have signed up to tackle the Indian Mud Run and they are coming to Coshocton from 25 different states and Canada. There will even be people who have competed on American Ninja Warrior traveling to Coshocton to take on the mud run, representatives from two national events will scout the venue and motivational speaker Coach Pain Dewayne will be at the starting line.
“We are hitting everybody this year with having a hardcore race and an easier one and those who do the 5K can then go out and try the other obstacles so they can see what they are like,” said Hubie Cushman, the creator of the Indian Mud Run. “The shorter course is very doable for first timers. It’s a great thing for groups of people to do too because they can stop and take pictures and help each other out. You can’t do that on the competitive course.”
One of the newer obstacles that he’s excited to be working on is the weaver.
“It’s an old army obstacle where you go over one beam and under another, but we are going to put it over water and use rafts,” Cushman said.
He of course also is excited about his very own floating walls obstacle that was featured in the 2016 World Championships and in the European magazine “Obstacle Race.”
“The guy in the picture they show is a friend of mine who comes here to do our race every year,” Cushman said.
Another race feature he is excited about for the 2017 Indian Mud Run is the spectator areas.
“They are so much nicer up here at Hilltop,” Cushman said. “They are going to be able to get close to several obstacles.”
Attendees will also find the kids course up at Hilltop. Children can take on the course for a fee of $10. Parents are welcome to go with them to help or take pictures and each youth will receive a medal for completing the course.
“If they can walk they can do it,” Cushman said. “The big reason we have this is because we really want to make the mud run a family event.”
A preregistration event will be held at Hilltop the night before the race when participants can get a sneak peak at the course.
“That’s a great thing for our community because it brings people into our hotels and our restaurants,” Hasseman said.
The top three finishers in each age category for the competitive race will receive an authentic Tomahawk and the top 15 finishers in each group get their names on next year’s shirt.
“Everyone who competes gets a shirt, medal, swag bag, bottle of water….all cool goodies,” Hasseman said.
The mud run raises money for Friends of the Parks and if you would rather volunteer your time than race there are plenty of ways to help.
“We have a huge need for volunteers on race day and we also have obstacles that aren’t built yet,” Cushman said. “I’ll probably be here every day until the race from 9 a.m. until 8 or 9 at night.”
What he needs help with the most on race day are people to sit at obstacles and they also would like photographers to take pictures of the event.
“Bring your lawn chair and we will give you a paper with number on it,” Cushman said. “The people doing the longer course will have bands on them. If they can’t complete an obstacle you cut their band off and circle their number on your sheet. It’s quite entertaining and you get to see some phenomenal athletes. There is this one 57-year-old lady coming from Florida who is a three time world champion. It’s amazing how strong she is and fast going across the obstacles.”
The biggest time frame volunteers are needed from is 7:30 a.m. to noon. If interested in helping, e-mail Cushman at hubie3@roadrunner.com.
In addition to Cushman and Hasseman, the Indian Mud Run committee includes Dustin Haywood, Fred Wachtel, and Stephanie Slifko. Cushman also wanted to give special thanks to Rusty Fry who has been his right handyman with building and design.
Over the past five years the Indian Mud Run has raised more than $65,000 for Friends of the Parks and been able to help with the new bathhouse at Lake Park and the updated bridge. Funds from the race also have been used to support local first responders, fire departments, Boy Scout troops, REACT and the sheriff’s auxiliary.
Sponsors for the sixth annual Indian Mud Run are the Charles E. & Dorothy S. Bechtol Fund of the Coshocton Foundation, Pearl Valley Cheese and Wiley’s Finest Wild Alaskan Fish Oil.
Category: Uncategorized
