Locals snub second mud muster

Unless entries pick up, more than half the people in the 2014 version of the mud muster will be outsiders. PHOTO/FILE

Sport Wanganui is pleased the entry numbers are growing for the second annual McDonald's Mud Muster in a fortnight, but it's the locals who seem to be getting bogged down.

Last year's inaugural 5-10km dash across slopes, swamps and rivers attracted nearly 350 runners, with Sport Wanganui planning to open it up further for Auckland and Wellington competitors this year.

With a week left to go until entries close on October 12, organisers say more than half of them come from the out-of-town crowd, meaning the local contingent is at risk of being in the minority of their own event.

Event manager Rachel O'Connor is urging Wanganui people to get their act together before time runs out.

"We've got people coming from as far afield as Wellington and Auckland for this event.

"The numbers are coming in fast and I would hate to see locals miss out because they didn't get their entries in on time."

As organisers arrange transport for competitors to the Rangitikei Farmstay in the picturesque Turakina Valley, they need to plan the numbers, so there is no "on-the-day" registration or just casually turning up for a look.

The Mud Muster will consist of a mixture of man-made and natural obstacles with competition fields to suit a range of abilities at the Tyrone farm in the valley.

The obstacles will include rugged hills, ponds and streams, a vertical wall climb, a muddy cargo net crawl, a mighty "slip and slide" and, of course, plenty of mud.

This year will include a beginner's "Give it a Go" course over 3km, along with the 5km and 10km options to provide something for all ability levels.

Sport Wanganui set up the event last year to join the growing national and international sport of Obstacle Course Racing, designed to challenge and inspire. This year, they have also provided free training sessions as a lead-up to the event.

For six weeks in Wanganui and Marton, Sport Wanganui staff have been hosting early-morning "boot camp" style sessions for those considering signing up for the Mud Muster.

"Rather than inviting people to a one-off event and leaving it at that, the training sessions are all about supporting people to work up to an achievable goal, and inspiring them to make positive changes long term, even after the event is completed," said O'Connor.

Entry for the Mud Muster is open to male and female adults, as well as secondary school students aged Year 9 and over.

Participants can enter individually or run together as a team.

Ticket prices for the 3km course are $20 for students and $25 for adults, while the 5-10km courses are $25 students, $40 adults.

Transport is included in the ticket price, provided by Transit Coachlines to-and-from the Rangitikei Farmstay between major drop-off points.

There will be limited access to the venue for private vehicles, however a parking fee applies.

The Mud Muster is on Saturday, October 18.

Registrations can be lodged at the Sport Wanganui offices beside Cooks Gardens, or online at the event's dedicated website: www.sportsground.co.nz/mudmuster.