Much like any number of races during the spring and summer, runners will crowd behind the starting line, bouncing up and down with pre-race excitement just waiting for the starting gun to release the built-up adrenaline.
That’s where the similarities end. The Gladiator Rush is no ordinary race, which is exactly why Bismarck’s Kayla Shafer is taking up the challenge.
“It’s not just a plain 5K,” said Shafer, who plans to make the Gladiator Rush her first race. “There’s going to be the rush of the audience there. People will be in costumes. You have no idea what the obstacles are going to be until you actually see them.”
On June 30, Shafer and thousands of other gladiators-for-a-day will invade Huff Hills south of Mandan for what organizers call North Dakota’s first-ever all-terrain mud run. Rather than striding over flat terrain for the 5 kilometers, participants will have to slog through puddles of mud, crawl under barbed-wire and negotiate dozens of other obstacles.
The race will be a grueling workout for even the most-experienced athlete. However, organizers hope to make the Gladiator Rush more than just an athletic endeavor.
“It’s not just a race; it’s a party,” said Tanner Schweitzer, one of the organizers. “It’s very challenging if you want to push yourself to the limit.”
Schweitzer, a Bismarck native, has spent the past 17 years pushing others to their fitness peaks as a personal trainer. For the past five years, he’s lived in the San Diego area, which is where he was first introduced to mud runs.
The events are far more prevalent on the coasts, and they’re slowly making their way to the Midwest. In November, Schweitzer and his friends started tossing around the idea of hosting one in Bismarck.
Registration opened in January, and, as of the third week of April, Schweitzer said 1,500 people have registered. He hopes to completely sell out the event, which would mean 3,000 brave souls taking to the course.
During the Gladiator Rush, participants will alternate between running over the rolling grass fields at Huff Hills and tackling obstacles ranging from a mud pit that will go up to people’s chests to a series of industrial-sized garbage receptacles that runners will have to hop in and out of.
That variety appeals to Margo Kramer, who has signed up to compete.
“Honestly, it’s different than running a marathon. It tests your whole mental fitness more than anything,” the Bismarck resident said. “I get bored with running, so I like different obstacles. It’s competitive, but it’s not really competitive toward everyone else but more toward yourself.”
No matter who the runners are competing against, they won’t be able to escape the mud. No one will leave without getting a little dirty.
“You’re going to get mud in your mouth; you’re going to get mud in your ears,” said Schweitzer, who has competed in multiple mud races. “Some people don’t expect that, but you’ll get mud down your back and in crevices. But that’s the fun of it.”
For Shafer, the mud is a large part of the appeal.
“I want the glory picture afterward. That’s the one thing,” she said. “I want to have a picture of me smiling in head-to-toe mud with my friend.”
As tough as the course sounds, Schweitzer stresses the event is for everyone.
He said people can walk the course, and, if any obstacle looks too daunting, competitors simply can bypass them — though only those who successfully conquer all the challenges are eligible for awards. A mud run is more about the experience than the competition.
“We’re not going to be down there hounding you. We’ll be there supporting you,” Schweitzer said. “Anybody can do it. It’s just up to you how hard you want to push yourself.”
Running on uneven surfaces, slopping around in mud and taking on obstacles certainly pose risks for participants.
To make the race as safe as possible, a full complement of medical personnel will be on hand. Volunteers will be stationed at each obstacle to serve as spotters to help out as needed.
Ultimately, though, it’s up to the competitors to use their discretion to stay safe.
“A lot of people won’t know what to expect,” Schweitzer said. “You just have to go through it. There’s not going to be anything life-threatening. People are going to have to take caution and take heed. This is a full-contact event.”
To help prevent overcrowding on the course, competitors will take off in waves that are staggered every half hour.
There will be plenty for runners to do while waiting for their wave or after finishing. Along with the competition, organizers plan on having tug-of-war contests in a mud pit, a mechanical bull and jousting. A DJ will blast tunes during the race, and, after all the competitors cross the finish line, the band Unleashed will take center stage to entertain the crowd. Food and beverage vendors will be on hand.
Schweitzer wants the Gladiator Rush to be an all-day event. To add to the experience, he encourages all participants to dress up in costumes and bring along friends. Fireworks displays will open and close the proceedings. Those who don’t want to compete can purchase spectator passes.
“We want people to walk away,” Schweitzer said, “and go: ‘Wow. This was the greatest thing I’ve been to. This is an awesome event, and when are they going to have it again?’”
-Tim Flagstad is a freelance sports writer and columnist for the Great Plains Examiner.