Park District Obstacle Course: Water Slide, Tires and Mud Pit, Oh My!

While its obstacle course was challenging, perhaps overcoming the obstacles of kids not being available to attend due to end-of-summer vacations, school preparation and the beginning of the fall sports season, was most imposing to the New Lenox Park District.

The New Lenox Park District played host to its inaugural Adrenalin Rush on Saturday at Firefighters Park in New Lenox. While they only had about 20 participants, those who dared themselves to finish the obstacle course, we're left winded and smiling.

"We plan on it being an annual event," said Kathy Claver, teen/senior coordinator for the New Lenox Park District. "We had a big group of the 10- to 12-year-olds who had a blast and we'll learn from this and be even better next year."

The timing of the event proved to be difficult as many kids are in the midst of vacation as well as a busy fall practice schedule with football, cheerleading, soccer and volleyball, among other sports. Still, those who tested their endurance on Saturday, left with smiles on their faces.

"It really knocks you out because you try to go as fast as you can and then there's a new obstacle," said Karlie O'Brien, who was the top finishing female in the 13-15 age-group with time of 2:53. "I had a good time, but doing it once was enough for me today."

The course featured seven obstacles. Racers began by having to jump over several taped off construction horses before climbing a hill where they had to slide down a tarp. After running a bit, they had to jump over a haystack and flip a tire end-over-end before getting to the fourth obstacle, a tire run that had to be completed football-style, meaning left foot, right foot, until they were finished.

Although no one had winter on their mind, snow fencing made an appearance in the next obstacle as participants had to get on all fours to crawl on their bellies to get to the sixth obstacle, a cone maze. After finally zigzagging their way through this, they met the final, and perhaps most challenging obstacle, the mud pit.

Some tried to run through the mud, others walked and some even attempted to swim. Either way, participants finally made their way through it, jumped a haystack and crossed the finish line.

"I was so tired and then there was the mud pit," said 12-year-old Payton Roque. "I had heard there was going to be mud, which was fun, but tough to get through."

The mud wasn't the only especially difficult obstacle.

"I don't know which was tougher, the mud or the tires," said 12-year-old Mackenzie Pipiras. "It was fun, though."

Kirsten Peters (2:50) and Hugh Flores (2:34) were the female and male winners in the 10-12 age group, O'Brien (2:53) and Jon Miller (3:01) in the 13-15 age-group and 17-year-old Bridget White, the lone competitor in the 16-18 age-group, finished with a 2:42.

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