GA_092018

4 | September 20, 2018 | The glencoe anchor news
glencoeanchor.com
Glencoe’s Mud Run adds new obstacles in second year
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
The Glencoe Park District
hosted the second annual
Great Mud Run on
Saturday, Sept. 15, setting
forth the following tough
requirements for the 331
youth participants: have
fun, get filthy, have fun.
The event, geared toward
kids ages 7-10 was held at
Watts Park, encouraging
kids to give it their physical
best, while complimenting
the Park District’s overarching
mission.
“One of our main goals
is to promote health and
wellness throughout the
community,” said the Park
District’s superintendent of
marketing Erin Maassen.
“The Great Mud Run is a
fun way to get kids outdoors,
while enjoying nature,
exercising and getting
totally messy at the same
time. Kids just love it.”
The race was divided
into various heats according
to age, challenging
participants to run a 1.25-
mile course, filled with
a variety of surprises —
climbing walls, mud pits,
balance beams, rope swing
and even a brand, new Slip
’n’ Slide challenge, where
kids dove through mounds
of foam.
After making it around
the course, kids proudly
crossed their finish line
covered in mud, making
them nearly unrecognizable
and eager to hit the
rinse-off stations nearby.
While 11-year-old Kate
Doelman, of Glencoe,
cleaned up, she laughed
with her friends about their
great adventure.
“The race was so much
fun. I especially loved
army crawling through
the mud. It was so fun; the
Slip ’n’ Slide was awesome
too,” Doelman said.
Doelman’s friend, Cate
Martin, 10, also of Glencoe,
crossed the finish line
minutes after, grinning
from ear-to-ear, giving the
event two thumbs-up.
“I loved it,” Martin said.
“This was so awesome. It
was fun to climb through
the mud and really challenge
ourselves. I just
loved it.”
The happy responses
warmed the heart of the
Eleanor Scjhebal (left), 11, and Asha Lee,12, of Glencoe, climb out of the mud trenches during the Mud Run
Saturday, Sept. 15, at Watts Park. Photos by Rhonda Holcomb/22nd Century Media
Park District’s special
event’s manager, Liz Visteen,
who cheered for kids
as they neared the end.
“What I most enjoy is
watching the kids cross the
finish line, covered from
head-to-toe in mud, but
with big smiles on their
faces. I just want them to
have fun and embrace the
messm” Visteen said.
Adding a festive feel to
the day was Famous DJ
Entertainment, who played
one tune after another, and
The Grand Food Center
who offered bananas to
reenergize the brave participants.
Members of the
Glencoe Jr. High Project
also volunteered, working
alongside Visteen, making
the event run smoothly.
“We couldn’t have done
it without our great junior
high volunteers, supporters
and all our brave participants
who gave it their
all today,” Visteen said.
“What more could I ask
for?”
A group of runners climb over an obstacle.
Kisten Nolan, 10, of Northfield, showers off the mud following the race.