No runner left behind at Polar Bear Mud Run in Spicewood
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
SPICEWOOD — If you come across a polar bear, you might want to run. But if it happens to be the Polar Bear Mud Run at the Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center, you should still run, but at least it’s not for your life.
In fact, you don’t really even have to run from the other competitors.
“It’s really a team event,” said Clay Albright, the center’s assistant director of outdoor education and recreation. “One of the things we try to stress is no runner gets left behind.”
The center hosts camps and conferences throughout the year. The Polar Bear Mud Run started three years ago as a way to help raise money to pay for a new swimming pool. With the drought wreaking havoc on Lake Travis, facility officials thought a new pool would be a good amenity.
And the camp staff decided holding an obstacle course run in the middle of December made for a perfect fundraiser for the swimming pool. This year’s Polar Bear Mud Run is Dec. 13 with waves heading out on the course every half hour from 9-10:30 a.m. with the Kids Fun Run starting at 11:30 a.m.
Registration is limited to the first 1,000 people who sign up.
Albright, who was working on the course at the time of the interview, explained the idea is to get folks outside and having fun. And unlike many other similar competitions, it’s not about finishing the fastest but making sure everybody digs in a little bit, has fun and learns a little about themselves.
“One of our goals was to create something so people would sign up their youth groups or other groups and come out and do it together,” he said.
And with the focus on teamwork and helping each other out, Albright said it’s common to see more athletic teenagers running alongside their less athletic teammates, urging them on and offering a hand through some of the obstacles.
And there are obstacles.
The 5-kilometer course (3.1 miles) includes about 18 obstacles, many involving mud and water.
While the obstacles and course require some level of strength and fitness, Albright said they aren’t insurmountable, and most people can ford them.
But if somebody gets to an obstacle and has doubts about accomplishing it, the participant can expect a little help from other competitors. Or a runner can skip an obstacle altogether.
When people finish, Albright said, they often have sense of accomplishment, especially if the Polar Bear Mud Run is something typically outside their comfort zones.
“We’ve had people of all physical levels do it,” Albright said.
Go to www.hlccc.org and look under the “Events” tab for more information or to register. The Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center is located at 5902 Pace Bend Road in Spicewood.
daniel@thepicayune.com