Taking on obstacles on at Seminole Valley

CEDAR RAPIDS - More than 1,000 chargers gathered Saturday at Seminole Valley Park for the 2013 Hard Charge. For many, it was their first obstacle mission.

“It's a challenge,” said first-time-runner Jim Meister, 69, of Cedar Rapids. “I let my body take care of itself. I just run.”

The Hard Charge was a 4.2-mile course with about 25 natural or constructed obstacles. Runners either went solo or worked as a team in the leisurely Charge for Fun or the competitive Charge for Glory.

Jamie Stant, 42, and Mary Hendron, 48, ran as a duo from Dubuque.

“I'm hoping to get over the obstacles,” Stant said before the Charge for Fun.

Many racers came to the event in peak physical condition.

“I work out every day,” said Lysandra Osterkamp, 28, of Cedar Rapids.

But a surprising number of people arrived with little or no training.

“Zero preparation,” Osterkamp's teammate, Brett Berry, 37, of Cedar Rapids, said. “I complain about running.”

For most, the goal of the day was the same: finish.

At 9 a.m., heats began leaving the starting line every 20 minutes. With rock music playing loudly through speakers, energetic chargers took off for a mud pond, followed by a crawl under fake barbed wire.

“We're nervous about the eight-foot-wall,” Osterkamp said. “But we'll pull together as a team.”

The No Holds Barred obstacle proved a challenge for many participants. Chargers had to cross monkey bars and risk falling into a mud/water pit.

“It was extremely hard, fun and dirty,” said Nazee Jabbari, 33, of Iowa City. “I feel exhilarated.”

One of the most amusing obstacles to watch was the Muddy Mission. Chargers had to climb over three mud hills into 3-foot deep mud holes at the bottom. At the end was the Abusement Park where runners maneuvered over and under tires, cleared an 8-foot wall, jumped over trusses and climbed a rock wall. This was followed by a 40-yard sprint for the finish.

The Charge raised more than $6,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospital.

“It turned out spectacularly,” Race Director Brent Wolf said. “We've had amazing support from the public, whether it was people registering or all the volunteers.”

Spectators cheered as competitors took on the obstacles.

“They got the crowd really involved and having fun,” spectator Kelsey Acord of Cedar Rapids said. “They made it easy for viewers to see everything.”

Dawn Buckheister, 36, of Cedar Rapids, won the women's division with a time of 54:09. Melissa Mundell, 36, and Shawn Mundell, 38, both of Cedar Rapids, and Deidre Nims, 37, and Christopher Nims, 36, both of Robins, were the 4F.I.T. Wonders and won the team division in 51:50.

LeEarl Rugland, 39, of Roseau, Minn., won the men's division in 33:43.