5K obstacle course on Ragged Mountain; new this year, children’s course

Thu, 05/21/2015 - 10:00pm

CAMDEN — Just kicking around the house Saturday morning? Don't sit there twiddling your thumbs. Put on your running shoes and tackle a mountain 5K that is both fun and demanding. Test your mettle at the third annual Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge, the third annual obstacle course at the Camden Snow Bowl.

While online registration is closed, race day registration for the third annual Run For Your Life will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, May 23, with a 9 a.m. start.

The Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge is a 5K organized by Midcoast first responders, and sends runners of all ages — from teenagers to those in their mid-60s — and abilities over a rugged course.

The Challenge appeals to the seasoned triathlete, as well as the novice runner, and presents challenges such as “Blazing Forearms,” “Bucket Brigade,” “Rescue Sandy” and other obstacles that are inspired by situations that firefighters, EMTs and rescue personnel encounter in their work.

The goal of the race is the heighten awareness of the need for more community involvement in local emergency services, whether volunteer or career. The Run For Your Life is also held to encourage all runners, from all walks of life, to challenge their personal best.

See photos from 2014 and 2013 annual Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge here.

Bring cash or check to the Camden Snow Bowl lodge. The registration fee is $50 per person.

Challenge yourself, in teams or as individuals, on the obstacle course that will take you up and down a mountain, through the woods, and over streams. Tackle obstacles, climb over walls, crawl under barbed wire, jump over fire.... Get muddy and tired, run like the wind, and above all, have a blast.

New this year is a children’s course at the bottom of Ragged Mountain, for ages 4 to 12. This is a great way to get children outside, and involved in physical activities alongside adults, all pushing their personal best.

The annual Run For Your Life Challenge at the Snow Bowl, a May 23 5K whose purpose is to raise awareness of the need for more involvement in local fire departments and emergency response, either volunteer or career. It is not a race just for firefighters and EMTs, although they host it. It is a race to heighten visibility of a community need for more public participation on their local emergency response team.

It is also a race that appeals to runners of varying abilities and backgrounds — teachers, cops, doctors, business owners — who like to tackle a rugged competition with a little more dimension than a road race.

See you at Ragged Mountain Saturday morning, where you will be run ragged!