Muddy challenge has its ups and downs
About 300 people got down and dirty for charity at Bissell’s Hideaway on Saturday.
The Niagara Mudfest Challenge, formerly Pelham Mudfest, took over the Pelham campground with a six-kilometre obstacle course for its fifth annual run.
Hosted by Rotary Club of Fonthill, the non-competitive run through the hilly terrain of the park has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Niagara for the past two years, and other organizations including Wellspring Niagara and Pelham Cares in the past.
In 2017, the event raised $5,000. Fonthill Rotary president Paul Snack expected this year’s tally wouldn’t be far from that amount.
The club targets groups that offer programming in the Pelham community for local residents.
“We try to move it around as much as we can, but it makes a big difference for them,” he said.
Fenwick residents Greg and Maria Tremeer were the first participants to reach the finish line, but modestly pointed out that they were also the first to start the course.
The second year participating for the couple, both agreed the terrain poses the biggest challenge.
“Physically and mentally, you have to get over the hills,” said Maria.
Greg said he and his wife are avid runners and that the event is a healthy personal test, but they also have registered the past two years because of the impact it has on the community.
“It’s a great cause and venue — they make it a lot of fun,” he said.
Niagara Falls resident Jesse Inkol said he was “absolutely exhausted” a few minutes after completing the course, still stunned by the “really, really cold water” that runners had to tread through on the final leg.
He said pacing himself was the most important part of finishing the run and that there seemed to be more uphill battles than downhill stretches along the way.
“And it’s really slippery and hard to keep your traction,” he said.
The run welcomes participants 13 years of age and older, but this year a kid-friendly component was also included.