ocr ·Jan 25, 2017 | Last Update: Feb 22, 2021

Q&A with The Battlegrounds Mud Run

We're excited to announce that MudGear will be an Official Sponsor of The Battlegrounds Mud Run. The Battlegrounds is a fixed course facility near St. Louis that features over 30 fantastic obstacles and a venue worthy of a destination weekend. We asked Bob Holm, Race Director, what makes this race special, and why it should be on your list for 2017...

Q: What makes the Battlegrounds race experience special and different from other obstacle course races?

A: As a smaller – yet permanent – mud run OCR course that holds only two events each year, The Battlegrounds can really focus on creating an experience that is second to none for our runners and spectators. We offer a lot of benefits including nearby free parking, fast registration check-in, a free and easy gear check process, and a motivational start line announcer. Our overall experience involves good, muddy fun at a challenging course that provides reliable timing, a cool finisher medal, runner t-shirts, a free heated post-race shower plus changing rooms to clean up in after the race.

The Battlegrounds is definitely different from your typical race venue. One of our best perks: Our wonderful winery and event venue that is just 500 yards from our course where runners can relax with their friends after the race. Another perk: Our course is designed to be extremely spectator friendly. The Battlegrounds is laid out where runners wind in and out of the main festival area so all can see them eight different times trying to conquer some of our biggest and most challenging obstacles.

Q: What's different about the Battlegrounds race this year? Are you guys trying anything new?

We add a few new obstacles at each and every race, as well as update and change our existing obstacles. This year we are planning to make some big changes in our trail layout and the direction of the course. We don’t want to share this year’s newest obstacles just yet, but we guarantee they will include more upper body strength and plenty of low crawls.

Q: Do you have a favorite Battlegrounds obstacle?

I have three. I really love a heavily wooded cedar tree forest trail cut we made in our backwoods. The trees are extremely tall and completely block the sun. It’s always about five or 10 degrees cooler in this section of our course, and the trail is cut really tight.

My other favorite includes our creek crosses and creek runs. Our course is pretty flat, so the creek’s slopes and crevices add a nice yet challenging change of terrain with lots of rocks, exposed tree roots and, of course, mud!

My other favorite is a crowd pleaser: The Gauntlet, which has six lanes of varying difficulties and is situated over an eight-foot deep water pit. I love watching runners attempt to cross The Gauntlet because it’s near the end of the race, and they are exhausted from the 30+ obstacles they have already encountered. It is a great ending to our very challenging course.