Mud Hero Halifax draws thousands for outdoor obstacle race

Cheryl Wareham and her niece Jalana Morton are covered head to toe in mud.

The aunt and niece, along with an estimated 7,000 others, took part in Mud Hero Halifax at Ski Martock on Saturday — trekking through six kilometres of mud and obstacle courses.

"It was like a swamp. I thought I was going to lose my shoes like three times," said Wareham. "The mud pit was so deep. Oh my goodness, I don't know.  I was like, 'What did I sign up for?' But I had fun."

'I loved it'

Morton agrees with her aunt. The muddy obstacle course was a first for both of them.

"I'm the dirtiest I've ever been and I loved it. It was awesome," said Morton.

Mud Hero Halifax has been held at Ski Martock for four years.

Ted McLeod, co-founder of Mud Hero, said the hill is ideal for the event.

"We only run you a little bit up the ski hill. And then the wonderful undulating terrain that's here also provides an awesome view of the Annapolis Valley," said McLeod.

'A really big bonding event'

McLeod said he was pleased by the number of people who participated in the event, which also serves as a fundraiser for the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute.

"This is always a really big bonding event. A lot of people use this event as a fitness goal. They planned it for the last six to eight months, they really focus on it. It gets people fit and having a lot of fun," said McLeod.

People from across Atlantic Canada and beyond drove to the hill just outside Windsor, N.S. to do the obstacle course. Candace Colpitts and Chelsey Daley drove in from New Brunswick and met up with their friend, Nicole Nickerson, who lives in Coldbrook, N.S.

'One of the coolest things I've ever done'

"It was awesome … one of the coolest things I've ever done, definitely ... [it] definitely should be on your bucket list," said Daley.

Nickerson said the race was a lot of fun.

"You don't even feel how tired you are. You're just kind of like 'That's so cool,'" she said.

Mud Hero Halifax ends at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. After Halifax, its next stop will be in Winnipeg.