Volunteers needed to help with Indian Mud Run
COSHOCTON – The Indian Mud Run is just around the corner and organizer Hubie Cushman needs volunteers to help him prepare for the more than 600 participants that are expected at the Saturday, June 25 event.
“We want to have close to 40 obstacles,” Cushman said.
This is the fifth year for the Indian Mud Run which offers competitors a 3.5 mile course in the beautiful setting of Lake Park with multiple obstacles to challenge people’s physical and mental strength.
“Two, possibly three, of the obstacles are from the top 10 obstacles of the World Championship,” said Cushman. “I was fortunate to be on the crew for the World Championship in Cincinnati and got to know the guy who runs the top rated obstacle race in Europe. The signature obstacle is dragon’s back, which is usually $3,000 to $4,000 to use, but we are getting the chance to use it for free. He wants to bring his race to the United States and some major obstacle races are showing interest in using our course.”
One obstacle is unique to the Indian Mud Run.
“It’s our own design and I’m happy about that, but it’s too hard,” Cushman said. “We have to make it a little easier.”
Larry Cooper also is bringing his obstacle called destroyer.
“It was voted second best new obstacle last year,” Cushman said.
However, before people can take on any of these challenges, Cushman needs help getting the course ready for them.
“We need help cleaning the trails, weed eating and setting up obstacles,” he said. “We get the canal at 4 p.m. Thursday (the week of the race) and will be there setting up obstacles through Friday evening.”
Work days will be posted on the Indian Mud Run Facebook page or you can call or text Cushman at 740-502-5013 or e-mail him at hubie3@roadrunner.com.
You also can contact Cushman if you want to volunteer on race day.
“The big thing we need this year is obstacle marshals,” he said. “You just sit there in a lawn chair and monitor the obstacle, but if someone doesn’t complete it right, you cut their band off. The big thing in obstacle racing now is to finish with your band on showing you completed everything.”
Top 15 finishers in each age category will get their names on next year’s shirts, medals will be handed out just as in past years and for the first time ever the top three in every five year age group will receive an authentic American Indian Tomahawk.
“I think that is going to drive a lot of people here,” Cushman said. “Time slots are filling up.”
The race is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and people can sign up for competitive and non competitive time slots by visiting www.indianmudrun.com. Awards for the competitive waves will be handed out at noon.
“The morning heats are all competitive and people pay more for the chance to win the tomahawks,” Cushman said. “If these people skip an obstacle they lose their band and get a five minute penalty. The afternoon waves are completely for fun.”
The Indian Mud Run also features the blob pillow, a kids’ course that will be hosted by the Boy Scouts and held rain or shine and various vendors. Plus competitors get a free beer at the end of the race.
“Part of the adults and kids course run side by side,” Cushman said. “It will be great for pictures of the kids and adults doing the same obstacles side by side.”
He also is excited to announce that canal crossings have gone from three to five, the water slide is bigger and better and there will be more opportunities for spectators to view competitors taking on the obstacles.
“This year is so important because we are going to video people at the end and ask them how they like the trail,” Cushman said. “We are going to send that to the major races in hopes of bringing in a bigger one.”
Obstacle course races like the Indian Mud Run are one of the fastest growing participation sports and Cushman said there is a group trying to make it an Olympic sport.
“If we can get a major one to come here they will bring thousands of people with them,” he said. “In the future we could have the Indian Mud Run in June and still bring a major race to town.”
Proceeds from the Indian Mud Run benefit Lake Park and also are divided between the Boy Scouts, fire departments, sheriff’s auxiliary and other groups who donate their time to help with the event.
“I run in a lot of these races,” Cushman said. “We might not have the money to build the obstacles that others have, but you won’t find a better trail than ours.”
Category: People & Places
