Registration underway for Rugged Maniac in Ohio
A different sort of 5-kilometer race set to debut in Ohio in the spring challenges participants to jump over flaming logs, navigate underground tunnels and crawl under barbed wire.
In all, 25 obstacles make up Rugged Maniac, scheduled for May 11 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
The event, hosted annually in 30 cities throughout the United States and Canada, features the 3-mile-long obstacle course and a festival at which guests can participate in pie-eating contests, ride a mechanical bull and shop among vendors.
When the Boston-based company conducted its first Rugged Maniac event near Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2010, Rob Dickens and Brad Scudder envisioned a more manageable alternative to militaristic events such as Tough Mudder, which covers 12 miles.
Serious Rugged Maniac competitors will inevitably vie for top finishes, but most participants, Dickens said, will be in it for the camaraderie.
“We built something that is fun but challenging and appeals to people of all fitness levels — from couch potatoes to cross-fit enthusiasts,” Dickens said. “The vast majority of people come out with a group of friends and do it together; they’re not in it to win it or crush the course.” • Registration for Rugged Maniac costs $49 through Jan. 11, $59 through Feb. 8, $69 through March 22, $79 through April 19, $89 through May 8 and $100 on the day of the race. For more information, visit www.ruggedmaniac.com.
In 2014, billionaire Mark Cuban invested $1.75 million for a 25 percent stake in Rugged Maniac after Scudder and Dickens appeared on the NBC show “Shark Tank.” Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, sold his share in August to GateHouse Media, owner of The Columbus Dispatch, which also acquired additional shares from Dickens and Scudder for a total of $10.4 million. GateHouse Media now owns 80 percent of the company.
Organizers expect about 5,000 people (including 3,500 competitors) to attend the Ohio event. Runners will depart in waves of 250 every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Dublin resident Vinny Parimi will be among the more casual competitors.
After completing her first obstacle course, Warrior Dash, in June, the 30-yearold recruited about a dozen of her friends to sign up.
Her only goal for herself: to complete all the obstacles.
“I heard they’re really challenging,” said Parimi, a business analyst and IT consultant. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
On the other end of the spectrum will be Ryan Rauch of Powell, who wants to qualify for the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships, and aims to finish among the top 10.
The director of operations for a medical group has been competing for four years in obstacle-course races — a welcome change of pace, he said, from road races.
“There’s always something different, so it keeps your mind engaged as well as your body,” said Rauch, 33. “There’s just something that’s fun about it and also challenging.”