Gladiator Rush | Video

Alexander Gorney | 6/29/2012

If you are looking for a race that is tough, fun, and will get runners more than a little dirty, this weekend features just that. The race, called the Gladiator Rush, is a 5K course that will get runners muddy.

A little water and dirt, that`s the perfect combination organizers are looking for at the Gladiator Rush at Huff Hills.

"A big reason I wanted to put this was on was because there has never been one in North Dakota," said organizer Tanner Schweitzer.

Organizers and maintenance crews at Huff Hills have been working to get the 3.2 mile mud run course ready for the around 5,000 competitors and spectators expected to be there.

"I`ve been mowing and putting up fence. Just cleaning up and making it look good out here," said lift manager Lucas Speidel.

The course will utilize the natural terrain for obstacles. The first obstacle involves runners scaling up a hill that is meant for skiers and snowboarders in the winter months.

Other obstacles will be man made. In one, runners will have to sprint up a 20-foot wall and climb back down the other side.

"As a race I want them to have fun. Our race is going to be different from any other type of race," Schweitzer said.

The mud moat is one of 12 obstacles along the course.

"The muddier the better, hopefully more muddy," Speidel said.

The "Dirty Dog" obstacle also awaits racers. Competitors will be ducking and even crawling up hill while under some barbed wire. The ground will be a lot muddier on Saturday.

"It`s not incredibly steep but yet it`s steep enough where you can make it challenging with hills and the passages in the woods so it just makes it really fun," Schweitzer said.

Near the finish, runners will have to climb over some hay bales. Dickinson reporter Alex Hagan tried it out and he even had at tough time at it.

"This your one chance to come out and be a gladiator for a day. Throw away your work clothes or wear your work clothes maybe run the race in your work clothes. We encourage every to dress up even if you are a spectator," Schweitzer said.

"I think it`s going to be pretty exciting. Something I`ve never seen before," Speidel said.

Sign-ups to compete in the Gladiator Rush are over, but for $10, spectators can take in the action and hang out for the post race party that will have a band and some food and fireworks.

Race officials ask that competitors and spectators come no earlier than 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Anybody coming before then will be escorted out.

Because Huff Hills has limited space for vehicles, racers and spectators will have to park their vehicles on farmland off County Road 80 and Highway 1806. They will then get bussed to the course from there.

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