Some of my fondest childhood memories include scavenger hunts in the woods behind our house, mud pies (without the worms), and constructing some of the most ridiculous obstacle courses made out of whatever useless (and sometimes rusty) old objects we could find hiding in the shed. It’s amazing that none of us ever ended up in the emergency room.
Now all grown up, the thought of dirt under my fingernails may not be ideal on a 9-to-5 day, but come the weekend, it is a much welcomed side effect if it’s a result of having fun under the sun in an event that harvests the complete opposite of staying clean.
Move over adulting … it’s time to get dirty. At Holiday Valley, they encourage it! Only they pull out the hoses, turn that dirt into mud, then unleash upwards of 1,200 fun loving people to run the resort’s trails, tackling a multitude of obstacles along the way!
Enter the 6th annual Mudslide Trail Run at Holiday Valley Resort, set for Saturday, June 17.
No, they aren’t expecting you to climb your way over a barbed wire fence or somersault through a moving ring of fire. However, what you CAN expect are trails maintained for running, and sturdy, realistically conquerable obstacles built by the HV mountain crew - an attractive improvement from our childhood days of sketchy backyard contraptions.
Yes. Running … this is a running event. But don’t let that intimidate you. As fun as this event is, you won’t even realize how far you’re legs have taken you. Two distance options are available, and both share a starting line at the top of the mountain. (Thankfully, the resort will be spinning the Spruce chairlift so you can save your energy for the real deal. The lift fee will be waived for race entrants; $5 for spectators.) Choose from the 3.5-mile course (piece of cake!), or for those feeling extra tough, opt for the 5.4-mile course which runs the same route but adds a bit of uphill running mid-way before looping back around. (You can view the course maps on Holiday Valley’s website.) Navigate through, over, and under 11 unique obstacles to the grand finale - a giant mudslide down lower Yodeler slope. Cross the finish line, claim your finisher’s medal, then head over to the HDK’s to rinse off all that mud! (Haven’t you always wanted to shower under a snow gun?)
Bonus fun: Costumes are encouraged! Not only will the Mudslide award the 3 overall fastest males and females, prizes will also be given to the most creative costumes. And for the wee ones, a Mini Mudslide features an easy half mile with its own set of mini obstacles, making this an event that the entire family can get it on. And after all that energy you’ve exhausted, reward yourself with extra fun at the post-race party on the Champagne Sundeck at Yodeler Lodge. Live DJ, games, dogs on the grill, and plenty of liquid refreshments to wash it all down. A Vendor Village will spotlight many of the local shops, and no doubt you’ll have plenty of stories from your muddy experience to share with fellow racers.
So if you regularly find yourself reminiscing about the good ‘ol days playing in the dirt, or daydreaming about being the next American Ninja Warrior, you’ll want to sign up for this year’s Holiday Valley Mudslide. We promise - hero status is easily attainable in an event like this, no matter what your age or skill level.
Giving Back: A portion of the proceeds from this year’s Mudslide will benefit Jim Kelly’s Hunter's Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to giving hope through education and awareness, research, and family care for Krabbe, Leukodystrophies, and Newborn Screening.
For full details including pre-registration, packet pick-up, lodging specials and more, head to www.holidayvalley.com or call 716-699-2345.
