What does your family do? The Big Muddy Challenge (BMC), a unique and rapidly growing family race event series, is posing this simple question to parents and children across Virginia and North Carolina. With the launch of its 2015 season, BMC is inviting families to enjoy each other’s company doing something a little bit different. Teams of adults and children will “race” through an age appropriate course of 10 -12 very muddy obstacles together. Ranging in age from 6 to 86, participants navigate over two miles at their own speed.
The Big Muddy Challenge is all about healthy living, family fun, and togetherness. And that is what sets this race series apart. Adam Spisak, Big Muddy Challenge founder, gives a pep talk to the volunteers before each race reminding them to cheer equally as loud for every team of racers regardless if they are walking, running, skipping or crawling. Spisak shared, “We don’t only target endurance athletes everyone has a place at the Big Muddy Challenge.” Many obstacles give participants the option to choose their route based upon desired difficulty level.
The Big Muddy Challenge seeks to create a priceless family bonding activity along with an exciting new way to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship and a sense of accomplishment. As one testimonial on the new BMC website depicts, “By the time we crossed the finish line, muddy and all smiles, I knew it was more than I could have imagined. My son told me it was the most fun he’s had in a long time. No screens. No controllers. No high score. Just honest exercise in a fun, supportive, and safe environment.“
BMC’s message continues to resonate. Following its inaugural year as a race series, BMC attracted over 8,600 participants. In 2015, the series will return to North Carolina and Virginia locations with what appears to be a very probable expectation of doubling participant counts. Last year, BMC shared proceeds with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies at each event location and is solidifying its charitable partnerships again this year. For both the 2015 Spring and Fall Raleigh events, BMC is excited to welcome Laster Orthodontics as a returning sponsor as well as new sponsors including Johnson Subaru and Fidelis Wealth Management. BMC is also looking to continue the relationship as a featured event of the Carolina Parent’s Fit Family Challenge.
A great amount of care goes into each BMC event. This care translates into a day-long celebration with opportunities for everyone to participate – racers, spectator families, volunteers, sponsors and recipients of BMC donations. To build the best family experience, all events are held at recreational farms that also offer seasonal outdoor activities for families and spectators before and after the event. The Big Muddy Challenge team is passionate about ensuring that there is value before, during and after the event for everyone involved. At the end of a long, dirty, and hot day, after all the registered racers have finished, there is one final wave. The dedicated volunteers, sponsors, and partners and staff gather at the start line together with their families to answer the question, What does your family do?
