Indian Mud Run brings competitors and friends back to Coshocton
For the eighth year, the Indian Mud Run brought competitors from all over the country to be challenged by the course designed by Hubie Cushman and his crew. Becca Maddux | Beacon
COSHOCTON – For the eighth year, the Indian Mud Run brought competitors from all over the country to be challenged by the course designed by Hubie Cushman and his crew.
According to Amy Taylor, event coordinator, 850 people had signed up before race day. “Last year, we had 567 preregister and 167 the day of the race. We are on track to blow that number away!” Taylor said the challenging course and the Coshocton area bring people back year after year.
Nathan Thiel, course marking director, is also a competitor. This is his fourth year to compete. “We have more than 70 obstacles. Hubie keeps adding new ones right up till race day.” He said all of the rain in the area will add some challenge to the rock wall climbs. “The rock walls have water running on them and the ravines are gushing water. That will be great. Otherwise, the rain won’t affect the course much.” The course is almost seven miles around.
Taylor said this year there is a professional photographer from Manhattan who will take between 800 – 1,200 pictures during the day. “Roman Lukiw has hired a local crew to help him that day and he’ll use facial recognition so we know who everyone is in the photos.” She also said Vertical Timing Management will be timing the athletes.
There is a 5K fun run and an amped up kids’ course this year. Several new obstacles were added to the kids’ course, including a floating wall and two mud pits. The kids’ course cost $10 and children could complete the course as often as they wanted.
Competitors came from the UK, Canada, the District of Columbia and 36 states. Vendors were available and more than 125 volunteers were helping with the race. “We couldn’t do this without Wiley’s Finest, our corporate sponsor. They have a huge presence here and also the Three Rivers Fire Department and Ohio National Guard. They take food to our volunteers on the course, carry water and offer security services. We are so grateful to everyone who helps us,” said Taylor.
Proceeds from the competition are split between the Friends of the Park, Three Rivers Fire District and other local organizations. “We’ve given $115,000 to these organizations in the first seven years,” said Taylor.
Taylor said bounce houses, with Kiwanis members manning them, are new this year. “It is $5 for all the bouncing they want. We are really trying to make this a big family event, with the bounce houses, food, sno-cones and ice cream.”
Matt Polo traveled from Spencer, Ohio, in Median County to compete in the mud run. When asked if he had completed before, he said, “Absolutely not.” He enjoyed his first run and was planning to complete the course again before he left. “I finished in two hours and 15 minutes. My friends always do this and I’ve never been available. This year I was and I had to do it.” He said the terrain was the toughest part of the race for him. “The obstacles were tough, but they were spaced out well. The hills and terrain were rough!”
This was Charles Macdonald’s first time at the mud run. He came from Alexandria, Virginia. “I’ll definitely do it again next year. My friends have been coming since they started doing this and talked me into it.” He said the amount of obstacles was tough for him, but that he enjoyed the race.
Taylor said the crew would start tearing the course down as soon as possible. “We are very conscious that someone could get hurt trying to do this without support.” She and Cushman will start planning the mud run for next year in July. “It’s a 12 month project for us, but we love it. We love to give back to Coshocton.”
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