Those who run through the mud and over obstacles at the fifth annual Tame the Terrain event will support children in the process.
The June 17 event at Muscatatuck Park in North Vernon is a fundraiser for the youth activities of three Catholic churches in Jennings County: St. Mary’s, St. Joseph’s and St. Ann’s.
Tame the Terrain is a 4-mile mud race that runs through 25 obstacles scattered about the hills and valleys of Muscatatuck Park. The obstacle course includes rock walls, ravines, cliffs, ponds, tunnels and the Muscatatuck River.
“It’s crazy, it’s fun and it’s interesting. It is it’s own kind of activity,” said Muscatatuck Park Director Greg Martin, who helps prepare the obstacles that are a part of the park’s natural terrain.
The days activities include the adult mud races for participants ages 13 and older, Tamers-in-Training races for children 9 to 12 and a mud race for children 4 to 8.
Spaces along the obstacle course will be provided for spectators who just want to watch the fun. Recorded music, a beer tent, food and beverage vendors will be part of the festivities.
To ensure safety and assist participants, more than 150 volunteers from the three churches work on-site during the event. According to event organizer Frances Walker, an ambulance and medical personnel are also on-site during the race, but during the previous four Tame the Terrain races, there have only been minor injuries such as sprained ankles.
“Sometimes people think they couldn’t do something like this but they come and find out they can finish the race and have fun doing it,” Walker said. “We have volunteers at every obstacle to assist. During the kids races there are many volunteers to help the kids learn how to do what they need to do to get through each obstacle.”
Tame the Terrain program has been good for the churches’ youth programs, but it has been great for the community because it has brought so many people to check out the event at Muscatatuck Park, Walker said.
The popularity of Tame the Terrain has spread from mostly local participants the first year to mostly those from out of town or out of state last year, she said. Last year the event drew about 750 participants from 30 different cities and seven different states, Walker added.
Registration is required to participate in the race.
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What: Tame the Terrain, a 4-mile mud race that runs through 25 obstacles
When: June 17
Where: Muscatatuck Park, 325 State Road 3 North, North Vernon
Participation cost: $65 dollars for adults, $20 for kids.
To register: Go online at tametheterrain.com
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