Muddy footprints and lost shoes were numerous along Glencoe sidewalks in the vicinity of Watts Center on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 1.
The Great Mud Run returned to Watts Park with 446 kids registered for the chip timed event, topping last year’s registration of 400 young athletes.
This year was the fifth year of the The Great Mud Run sponsored by the Glencoe Park District, with a bye year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Erin Classen, superintendent of marketing and communications for the Park District.
“The Great Mud Run creates memorable experiences for school aged children and all of their families,” Classen said.
Classen expected to see approximately 1,000 people attending the event with 40 staff and volunteers assisting. The run was geared for children aged 7 to 14.
“We appreciate everyone who takes time out of their weekend to come and help us and support the Park District,” Classen said.
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Among volunteers was Colleen Fischvogt of Glencoe, the parent of Davy Fischvogt, 13, an eighth-grader. Davy’s mother assisted on behalf of Glencoe Youth Services, an organization which also was fundraising that Saturday.
“We really like to support the Park District because they put on some amazing events and I can’t even imagine the number of people it takes to pull this off,” Colleen Fischvogt said. “For a small town to do something as cool as this, setting up however many obstacles and putting it together … it’s amazing.”
This year was the fourth time that Davy Fischvogt took part in The Great Mud Run, Davy’s mother said. With previous experience then, Davy’s pro tips for success were, “Keep your shoes.”
Many of the young athletes besting the 1.25 mile course and the 12 obstacles lost their shoes. Kids lost shoes in the suction cup mud in an early challenge in the woods by South School. Parents joked they were glad to have a mud room at home.
“It’s tricky in some of the really big mud pits, a lot of people lose their shoes, they have to decide, ‘Do I dig for my shoe or keep running for a better time,” Colleen Foschvogt said. “And then afterward, you circle back and look for your shoe.”
Rob Bramlette of Glencoe recorded cellphone memories of his daughter Blake, 12, a seventh-grader.
Blake was among participants who made it through obstacles like low twine challenges that caused athletes to crawl through mud amid water sprays.
But then there were the soap suds down the sledding hill that helped to wash mud off too. Large soap puffs from the sled hill floated past Watts Park over houses and treetops, looking like cumulus clouds in the sapphire blue sky.
Blake Bramlette made it to the finish line for her second The Great Mud Run experience.
“It’s just a lot of fun with her friends and it’s a way to get together and compete and it’s just a great event,” Rob Bramlette said. “It’s been nice to spend the fall day getting muddy.”
At the finish line, Blake said the course was, “good,” and no, she didn’t lose a shoe.
Glencoe siblings Max Stickrod, 9, a fourth-grader and August Stickrod, 13, a seventh-grader are also returning The Great Mud Run athletes.
“It’s fun to get muddy,” August said.
“I like the exercise,” Max said.
Adit Mathur, 12, a seventh-grader from Glencoe, participated for a second year.
“You get super muddy,” Adit said. “It’s fun to get messy.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
