FORT GORDON, Ga. - They came in droves, 2,500 people comprising 457 four-person teams, from across the country, to compete in this year’s Marine Mud Challenge hosted by the Marine Detachment of Fort Gordon May 11 at the installation’s new and improved obstacle course located at the corner of Chamberlain Ave. and 19th Street, the ultimate physical and mental fitness test, with competitors facing off with military-style obstacles.
The event was open to the public. Teams included service members, family members, and civilian participants coming as far away as California to tackle the four-mile, 24-obstacle course. Children had their own course – the Children’s Challenge. A total of 550 children tested their strength and endurance on the mud-filled course.
“I look at it as it’s the only mud-run in the Augusta area,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Adam Bartha, Marine Detachment Fort Gordon. “The Marine Detachment does this event every year and one thing we enjoy about it is the community – inviting the community to take part in the challenge.”
As the teams took off from the starting line they encountered their first obstacle, “the big hill.” Not just any hill, the base was a murky pool of mud. Once competitors crested the top they were met with a concrete tunnel. After the tunnel they were off and running, literally, in a race to complete the four-mile course. They hadn’t seen anything yet.
Making their way around the course, competitors ran, jumped, and low-crawled their way to the end.
“Our hardest obstacle this year was the “Are You Kidding Me” wall,” said Bartha. “It’s a seven-foot wall located on the top of an 85-foot hill.”
There were four competitive team categories and one non-competitive category where participants took on the mud challenge for fun.
Winners of this year’s event broken down by category with team name and time:
Competitive hardcore – Marines Dominate [Fort Gordon’s Marine Detachment] with 43 minutes 3 seconds
Competitive male – Whistle Pigs with 46 minutes, 6 seconds
Competitive female – Muddy And We Know with 51 minutes, 25 seconds
Competivie coed – Shazammmm with 46 minutes, 38 seconds
Proceeds of the event benefit the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in support of Fort Gordon service members and their families. The date for next year’s event will be announced sometime this summer. To check out more on the Marine Mud Challenge visit: https://www.facebook.com/MarineMudChallenge and http://www.marinemud.com/