Lauren Shelburne | Banner Contestants compete in the Mud Run 5K event in Lake Elsinore. Students from California Baptist University took part in the event as Community Life began signups for the event and sold out of tickets within the hour.
A contestant in the Mud Run event trudges through the mud under a net Sept. 19 to overcome a part of the muddy 5K obstacle course in Lake Elsinore.
On Sept. 19, at least 50 students from California Baptist University woke up bright and early to get down and dirty at this year’s Mud Run in Lake Elsinore.
Community Life opened signups for the event Sept. 8, and tickets sold out within the hour. Before the event, an email was sent out to participants letting them know what to expect for the event and informed students that eating breakfast before the run and bringing a fresh change of clothes was a must.
Nick Landon, a junior history and sociology double major and Community Life intern, described the event as “the pinnacle of our lives.”
Despite having to meet at 7:45 a.m., energy was high within the students and faculty. The journey began in Lake Elsinore where the event was held and students began to ready themselves for the adventure ahead. Some students duct-taped their shoes to eliminate the possibility of losing them in the muddy pools, while others danced and cheered to get each other pumped up.
“I am so excited to get to run with new people, make new friends and just all together have a good time in the mud,” said Keila Mazariegos, sophomore psychology major.
This year was the first time CBU has offered Mud Run tickets to students. Even though running a 5K through mud and extreme obstacles can sound terrifying to some, Community Life designed the event for the purpose of fun.
“It is just a fun event,” said Josh Thomas, junior mechanical engineering major and Community Life intern. “There is no pressure to be really fast. It’s just a cool team-building thing.”
At the finish line, volunteers handed out water bottles and medals. Despite the challenging course, students gathered together with the support of
fellow CBU students and toughed it out to the end.
“The Mud Run was something I had never done before, so it was definitely worth it,” said Emily Martin, freshman photography major. “It was a lot of fun getting to know the other runners and having fun splashing in the mud.”
