CAMDEN — Two hundred and 45 participants ran, jumped, shimmied, and strategized their way through the annual Ragged Mountain Scuttle, Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Camden Snow Bowl. 

Starting at 8 a.m., 15 start times advanced teams and individuals from ages seven through retirement along a hilly Kuller Trail. Twenty-two obstacles and 3 “surprises” kept athletes looking out for their teammates as well as those in front and behind them. 

Six years ago, One Community Many Voices took over hosting the annual event. OCMV is a Rockland-based nonprofit that helps keep people’s financial setbacks from becoming debilitating by providing mini-grants. In the process, the nonprofit works to cultivate community connections.

“Part of OCMV’s mantra is about believing and building community,” said Race Directer Audrey Lovering, who has directed the Scuttle for three years now. 

Participants of this year’s Scuttle not only practiced their teamwork at a local event that draws athletes from all over the state, but their  came from a mutual benefit of a three-way organization interaction.

Obstacles along the course were built by prisoners of the Maine State Prison.

“Bangor Savings Bank provided OCMV with a grant,” said Lovering. “We wanted to support Maine’s prison program. So, it’s like, how can we help each other?

The Medomak Valley High School boys and girls soccer teams volunteered by providing guidance at many of the stations.

To help keep athletes returning, Scuttle organizers distribute surveys following the race. 

“Could you make the run harder?” was one of the requests received from last year’s survey. “So we threw in the advanced 1.5 (miles),” said Lovering.

This year, the regular 3-mile course also came with an optional 1.5-mile addition that led more energetic athletes “straight up and then straight down again,” as described by numerous volunteers.  

“I think what people have liked is that we listened and we changed it,” said Lovering.

Click here for race results

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com