Three years after the Town of Guilderland held its inaugural Tawasentha Mud Mania race through a muddy obstacle course as a fundraiser for park improvements, it had made enough money to pay for shiny new playground equipment. This year, the race is continuing due to its popularity.
“It is a great community event. It is a big family event on Father’s Day weekend,” said Linda Cure, public relations officer for Guilderland’s parks department. “The town and (the Parks and Recreation Department) really felt it was such a hit we wanted to continue to offer it to the community.”
The playground at Tawasentha Park was about 30 years old when the mud-filled fundraising event was conceived, Cure said. The old equipment needed to be removed and new equipment installed. The first phase was around $100,000 to complete, she said, and the second phase was “significantly less.”
Last year, the Guilderland Town Board approved matching the funds the department raised for the first phase, which helped expedite the process.
In the fall, new playground equipment for 5- to 12-year-olds was installed. That equipment includes climbing features and a slide. The final phase was smaller equipment for 2- to 5-year-olds, which should be completed before July.
Some of the proceeds for this year’s race on Saturday, June 14, held again at Tawasentha Park, will go toward additional park improvement, but this year ARE Event Productions is taking over running the event. The company is already familiar with the run because of its previous involvement.
“In the past, we provided timing, the sound, entertainment and other event equipment,” said Josh Merlis, president of ARE Event Productions. “We are devoting our full resources to really putting as many of the small elements into it.”
Rain or shine, the event will be held, because regardless, everyone participating is going to end up a muddy mess.
“We are looking forward to a great day, and it doesn’t matter if it is sunny or rainy. It is still fun,” Cure said. “It is just wonderful to see all the smiling muddy faces.”
Every year, the race includes some new attractions and features to surprise people. Event organizers are tight-lipped on the course’s new features. Overall, the race will be similar in style though.
“To me, the most important thing in the first year of transition is we do want it to be as close to as it was last year,” Merlis said. “People should expect the same level of fun, mud and entertainment that they have experienced there in the past.”
The event kicks off with the 1K Kids Race, which is just over a half mile, for children 11 years old and younger at 11:30 a.m. The race is held near where the event is staged and has more kid-friendly obstacles, such as a big slide and mud pit.
There are four waves for adult races and the first wave at noon is the only timed “competitive” option for those interested. The three remaining waves are considered “fun runs” and are held at half-hour intervals.
Overall, the event is more focused on fun than fast times.
“I think what makes this especially popular is that no one is going to be asking what is your time. When people finish, they are going to be asking how did you get over the bale of hay,” Merlis said. “People of very different abilities are going to be having the same experience.”
The event focuses on creating an enjoyable experience for the whole family, he said.
Once runners finish the race, the fun isn’t over.
Runners will receive a coupon for a barbecue held by the Guilderland high School cross country team, which offers participants the choice of a burger, hot dog or vegetarian option and a drink. Meal tickets can also be purchased for those not running.
There will be music throughout the event and vendors from Crossgates Mall, which is the title sponsor of Mud Mania. Kids can also enjoy water slides and a mud pit throughout the day.
ARE Event Productions is based in Guilderland and many members of the Albany Running Exchange are from the community, said Merlis.
“We are looking forward to putting on an event in our own backyard,” he said.
The Kids Race entry fee is $6, and the adult 5K race is $35. Registration is available on-site before the event kicks off Saturday, or online through a link at TawasenthaMudMania.com.