The Warrior Dash sells out way in advance, so plan ahead. Look for the Mountain City, Georgia edition of the Warrior Dash on May 14, 15. The Mechanicsville, Maryland event is set for May 21, 22. warriordash.com •
GROW YOUR OWN Obstacle course races are fun to enter, but you know what’s even more fun? Staging one of your own. It’s not as tough as it seems, particularly if you aim to keep it small. Richard Handy puts on some of the wackiest, most fun races in the South, including the Asheville Idiotarod (shopping carts and Wonder Woman costumes!). BRO asked Handy for tips to help you stage your own low-key race with stupid human tricks.
How many people do you need to have a good race? Honestly, if you have the right attitude, just one. We just held the Asheville Extreme Golf Championships and with 7 people we had an absolute blast. I’ve also seen 300+ people at an event be absolutely miserable. When it comes to having a good time, I think it comes down to the structure of the event and attitude of the participants, a lot of which is based on who you pull in or how you market it.
What sort of challenges or obstacles can people include in a course to spice things up? Small ramps, slalom courses with anything, mud, the classic Slip n’ Slide, water balloons, orienteering, big wheels, tricycles…the options are endless.
What sort of headaches can someone expect when putting on a small, unofficial race with no entry fees? There aren’t a lot of headaches if it’s a small event. If at all possible, use private property. They will most likely want to be listed on your waiver and there will probably be a charge, but it simplifies things tremendously.
Underground events on public property are interesting. I love them, but keep it small to stay out of trouble. People sue, especially in America, even if they sign a waiver. My advise is just to make sure that what you are doing is as safe as possible and that you, as an event organizer, have tested the course yourself.
DIRTY MOVIES
See vids of the Urban Assault, St. Francis Mud Run, and the Tough Mudder at blueridgeoutdoors.com
