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A run through the mud: Viking Challenge offers runners test
Published 9:39am Thursday, September 13, 2012Fergus Falls area runners looking for a challenge this weekend don’t have to look far as the Ringdahl Ambulance Service will host the first Viking Challenge Saturday.
Located North of Fergus Falls on County Road 22 on the east side of Jewett Lake, the event is a 5K mud run that pits runners against several different types of terrain, as well as obstacles not seen in traditional races.
The course includes 13 obstacles spread out over 300 acres that runners can try their hand at including a tire obstacle, a wall, Hagar’s Hill, mud pits and much more.
“Our course is a permanent course on over 300 acres of wooded trails, sloughs, and natural obstacles and created for a permanent and natural integration into the landscape,” event coordinator Randy Fischer said.
The idea came after the Ringdahl Ambulance Service was contracted to provide medical event management for ‘Dirty Girls’ mud run in several cities across the U.S.
“The Ringdahls’ personal experience and challenges through cancer of their son, Tollef, when he was 8 years old, and the tremendous support, research, care, and efforts by so many people at that time, has been a driving force for all of us to “give back,” Fischer added.
Proceeds from the run will go to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, The Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Care & Research Center, and Dough 4 Joe.
The course staff have had test groups run and give feedback on the difficulty and layout of the course.
They have also taken precautions to make the event as safe as possible, while also adding a fun challenge for runners.
“We have medical personnel on site and people at all obstacles to assist with strains, sprains, or other injuries that may occur.”
A waiver must be signed by each runner before they proceed with the race, but participants have the option of going around the obstacles if they are too difficult.
Runners will receive awards for fastest male, fastest female, fastest average team time and recognition for age group winners.
Currently, nearly 600 runners have register for the event and Fischer expects even more to register the day of the race. Cost of the race $75.00 per participant for individual registrations, while a team costs $65.00 per person.
Spectators are also encouraged to watch the race or view the course for only $3.
The first wave of runners start at 9 a.m. with a new wave starting each half hour thereafter. Runners in the event are recommended to show up two hours before their scheduled race time.
“Many thanks to all of our sponsors, volunteers, business partners, and food vendors, music, DJ, announcer, Dough 4 Joe, Lake Region Health Care, and Children’s Cancer Research Fund. We have many important business partners from Culligan, to Viking Bottling, to Hancock Concrete, Korby Construction, Fergus Electric, 321web, LiveWire graphics design, and so many more that have contributed many hours and product for the event. We Thank all of them for their contributions and involvement.”
