“I ran Mud Mountain to prove to myself that despite a brain injury from a cycling accident, I was up for the challenge of my first 5K since rehab. I didn't know if I would cross the finish line, or finish the race, but not trying wasn't an option. Besides, I love running hills and was proud to close with a strong sprint to the finish!”

-- Cheryl Reasoner Wethers,

sprinting to the finish line

at Mud Mountain XIV last year.

   

“You can run a road race any day of the week, or you can race

Mud Mountain and find out what you're made of.”

Candace Caveny,

the women’s division Mud Mountain

     Champion in 2008, finished 2nd last year,

is already signed up for  2010

“Mud Mountain is not just a local 5K race, it's a celebration of friendship, competition, and personal excellence. It does not matter whether a person is trying to break 15 minutes or 55 minutes, there is an unspoken recognition of pride and respect between all competitors that binds us together as a family of barrier breakers."


-- Dustin Davis

who holds the Mud Mountain course record (15:36)

which he set at an IHSA Sectional meet in 2005   


“Yes, this is a race but to me it is about family, my cross country family.

Runners take care of each other and it is obvious at Mud Mountain.  You never meet a stranger at this race because runners take care of each other. 

We are family no matter what goes on outside of running.

We are family.”


-- Roxanne Patrylak

“Mrs. Coach”

veteran medalist at Mud Mountain


“I look forward to capturing great pictures of the athletes participating in this year’s run.

Give me a shout out as you cruise on by.”

-- Mighty Joe Young

KSDK -TV

Official Race Videographer

“YAAARRRRGGGHHH!”

-- Maximus & Mercedes,

practicing their “game faces.”

At age 3, Max will be the youngest runner at

Mud Mountain XV.

At age 4, Mercedes will be among the youngest, and most fierce.

what runners are saying

about mud mountain

“There is nothing virtual about Mud Mountain.

Nothing phony.

Real grass, real trees,

and it looks like this year, real mud.”

Tom Atwood

Race Director

Mud Mountain XV


   

“My favorite part about Mud Mountain is right before the race. When you look around and see so many people, all there to do one thing...run. It's invigorating.”

-- Briana Chamberlian,

who runs cross country and

track & field at Edwardsville  High School.


--Dr. Darren Wethers,

running Mud Mountain XII in 2007,

the 1st year the race was held on Saturday morning.


“I associate Mud Mountain with blood, sweat and tears.  It features summer heat, fast competition and climb after climb.  If you are looking for a test of your fitness and speed, Mud Mountain is the 5K for you!”

“My hope is that all the runners, whatever their ability, will have a good race on our tough course, finish with a time that they are proud of, and then enjoy the rest of the day, travel home safely and come back for our race next year.  

That will be ample reward for us Mud Mountain volunteers.”

-- Larry Thompson,

who designed and built the chute,

enjoys a quiet moment before the start of

Mud Mountain XIII in 2008


--Lindsay Shaw,

finishing Mud Mountain XIII

(2008) in a time of 29:19.


“What makes Mud Mountain

so great is the heat and the misery. It's what gives the races charm.”

A MESSAGE FROM

THE RACE DIRECTOR


BY TOM ATWOOD

9:10 PM FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010


I’LL KEEP THIS SHORT. TODAY (FRIDAY) I RAN THE MUD MOUNTAIN COURSE. OR I SHOULD SAY, I TRIED TO. IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON AND IT WAS 95 DEGREES. I GAVE UP ON THE 2ND MILE. MY POINT? PLEASE BE CAREFUL AT THIS YEAR’S RACE ON SATURDAY. BE SMART. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER BEFORE YOU COME TO THE COURSE. TANK UP. WE HAVE LOTS OF SHINY, CLEAN  PORTA-POTTIES. HYDRATE. AND IF YOU ARE NOT IN TOP CONDITION, DON’T RUN. YOU’LL STILL GET A COOL T-SHIRT. WE ARE EXPECTING A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN 80 AND 85 DEGREES AT RACE TIME. THAT’S HOT!


HAVE FUN. ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL RACE, AND DON’T END UP IN THE FIRST AID TENT! SEE YOU AT MUD MOUNTAIN!