Mather Mud Run Set to Kick Off Air Force Week

On Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 a.m., the 10th annual Mather Mud Run will mark the beginning of the Sacramento Air Force Week. The run will be held in Hagan Park at 2701 Chase Drive, and parking will be free.

The Mather Mud Run started 10 years ago as a small event with around 50 participants. The race, which includes a two-to-five mile obstacle course and a lot of mud, was originally held at Mather Field but moved to Hagan Park three years ago. Basic Training Fitness Program Senior Drill Instructor Rodney Carson organizes the event, and he is looking forward to a big turnout this year.

“It just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Carson said. “We’re hoping for 1,000 runners. The crowd, of course, will be more.”

The Mud Run is all about the obstacle course race, but many other attractions will be featured there as well. Carson said an Air Force band will play live music and other festivities include raffles, exhibit booths and a military, fire and police vehicle display.

The most exciting addition to the run will be fly-overs by military aircraft from Travis Air Force Base.

“We’ll be sort of the mini air show before the air show,” Carson said.

Carson is proud that his humble event a decade ago has now become a large regional event that is starting to attract people from across the U.S.

“The race has really taken off,” he said. “It’s become a very popular event.”

It almost didn’t come back for a second year when the 9/11 attack happened just before their event was scheduled.

“We asked, ‘Do we really want to go on with this event?’” he said. Before he could cancel, though, President Bush gave a speech urging people to continue with their lives and engage in patriotic events.

“It was a very, very good year that year,” Carson said. “We had parachute jumpers land at that event.”

Now, 10 years and 1,000 participants later, the Mud Run is kicking off one of the most popular events in the region.

“It’s an honor for the Air Force to call and say, ‘We want to use your event as the kick-off event,’” Carson said. “We’re absolutely thrilled.”

Participants can choose from either a 2-mile or 5-mile obstacle course race and can enter either as an individual or with a team of 4 to 5 people. Kids can also join in for a 1/2 mile obstacle course run.

Registration before September 3 is $35 per person, $140 for a 4-person team or $175 for a 5-person team. Kids are $20. At the race, registration will be $42 per person, $160 for a 4-person team or $200 for a 5-person team, and the kid’s price will stay the same.

Everyone who participates will receive dog tags and the first 1,500 finishers will receive T-shirts. A portion of race proceeds will be donated to Toys-For-Tots.