Great Mud Run sends racers on messy trek through Glencoe park

Dirty tactics were encouraged among racers on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Glencoe.

The Great Mud Run led more than 400 child participants through 12 obstacles along 1 1/4 miles of manipulated course in Watts Parks.

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Glencoe Park District workers spent Friday, Oct. 1, preparing a number of dirty tricks for the runners, including a mud pit, mud trench and path, stump jump, above-water balance beam and slip ‘n’ slide.

“It’s actually a lot of work from the parks team,” said Erin Classen, the district’s superintendent of communications. “They are instrumental in creating the course. … It’s all the creativity of our parks department.”

This year marked the fourth version of the mud run, which is open to ages 7 to 14. Classen said for the first time the park district welcomed food trucks — Donut Jester and Nothing Bundt Cakes — for the morning run.

The top three male and female finishers in three age divisions were awarded on a medal stand. The overall winner was Colton Stiller, an 11-year-old who finished in 10 minutes and 1 second. He bested Graham Howard (10:05), Dylan Sears (10:14), Benjamin Sullivan (10:27), and William Chiang (10:38) and Charlie Sears (10:38) in the race’s top five.

Onyka Rosien, 13, was the top female finisher at 11:34, followed by Murphy Gamse (12:08), Ainsley Schachman (12:24), Anabelle Hewitt (12:46) and Solar Rosien (12:56).

Among females aged 12-14, Onyka Rosien was followed by Schachman and Hewitt. In 9-11, Gamse, Cherry Dunerdale and Syndey Kletzel were the top-three finishers, and in 7-8, they were Solar Rosien, Katherine Lester and Zoe Iden.

For the boys 12-14, it was Howard, Charlie Sears and Jaden Popa. Top finishers in boys 9-11 were Stiller, Dylan Sears and Sullivan; and in 7-8, they were Jack Phillips, Theodore Berman and Sidney Cogan.

The runners left everything on the course, including their shoes, many of which were fished out of the creek by two volunteers, Classen said.