Summer Fun in the Mud

The snow may be melted, but there is still plenty of action at Gunstock Mountain Resort, at least there will be on August 9.  That is the date for the third annual Mud Hog Race, an event with the tagline, “Run Hard. Ride Hard. Finish Dirty.”  That pretty much sums it up, too.

All Mud Hog competitors will be racing together with a partner. Teams will begin together, with one teammate on a bike and the other on foot. They will only see their partner when they pass them between obstacles, at the start and finish, and especially in the mud pit. The course will consist of 5-6 miles, with 4 obstacles at exchange points. When the biker reaches the obstacle (hopefully before the runner), they will leave the bike, complete the obstacle and continue on foot. When the runner reaches the obstacle, they will complete it and pick up the bike (left by their partner). Each competitor will need to complete the obstacle prior to returning to the course. Last year's obstacles included tires, a slip and slide and a balance beam among others.

The course will finish with the 60ft Mud Hog mud pit! Racers will need to wait for their partner before entering the mud pit. Competitors will have to dig and crawl their way through the pit with their partner, and sprint to the finish. Racers will have to finish within seconds of each other to have a time recorded.  There are six different racing categories that participants may enter.

Following the race, competitors are invited to an open BBQ, all part of the race entry fee. Racers must be at least 18 years of age to compete in the main event. Mud Hog Race sponsor brewery, Boston Beer Company will be serving up cold beer after the race for anyone in the race.

“Last year we more than doubled the number of participants from the first year,” said event organizer and founder, Matt Hartman.  “I think we are on course to do the same this year.  This is really a unique event that is incredibly fun.  Last year, we even had some participants from the west coast who happened to be vacationing and saw an article about the race,” he said.

The main event begins at 11:00am on race day.  Proceeds benefit Breathe New Hampshire.  For more information or to register, visit www.mudhograce.com or www.breathenh.org/mudhog.