Kroc CDA Partners With Heritage Health To Host Annual "Muddy Miles" Fundraiser
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By DEVIN HEILMAN/CDA Press
COEUR d'ALENE - No one was safe from the water and the mud.
When the wind kicked up Saturday afternoon, even spectators fell prey to the water cannons and sprinklers that rained down never-ending streams at the 2014 Muddy Miles.
The main arena in the Kootenai County Fairgrounds was transformed into a wet and muddy obstacle course as hundreds of participants climbed over and slid down mounds of dirt, waded through puddles and sloshed their way to the finish line.
The first woman to complete the 2-mile course was Jen Smalley of Rathdrum, who was feeling fantastic as she wiped mud from her face only moments after finishing.
"It was a great race," she said. "This is 10 times better than the Dirty Dash. Hands down. There's way better obstacles, the mud pit was awesome, the fire station that comes out, it was great."
Her good friend Stacey Hanlon finished the race right behind her, and said she was feeling "jazzed."
"It's a little preview for Tough Mudder, so I came out and did it," she said. "I'm doing Tough Mudder in August."
Smalley said the large dirt mound near the finish line was somewhat difficult, but she persevered.
"Honestly, this finish right here, that's hard," she said. "Climbing up that, I almost didn't make it."
Smalley and Hanlon made some great faces as they posed for memorable photos at the Muddy Miles photo station, located just beyond the finish line.
The sloppy, soggy Muddy Miles event was attended by about 1,000 participants with many more in the grandstand watching.
Isaak Walker, 15, of Hayden, is a Kroc Center volunteer who participated in the youth heat with his sister, Kassy, 13. He wore a tie like a bandana around his head and had colorful plastic leis wrapped around his ankles.
"We both have a tie and we both have goggles, but she has sunglasses beneath her amazing goggles," he said. He was looking forward to showing up his sister "because I'm much faster than her," he said with a big smile.
James Prickett, 15, of Hayden, his brother, Cameron, 14, and their friend, Gregory Deverna, 14, dressed to the nines in outlandish outfits and face paint. James wore a polka dot bandana, Gregory wore a belly shirt and yoga pants and Cameron chose the disco look with a ruffled pink shirt and sparkly blue pants.
"It's just fun to dress up," James said. "We went down to the thrift shop this morning and picked up some random items."
"It's more fun if you look fabulous," Gregory said. They all agreed the best part of Muddy Miles, which they ran last year, is getting to play in the mud. James and Cameron's mom, Kjirstine, said it's just their nature.
"They're all athletes, so they always come home dirty and they like to be dirty," she said.
Robin MacKinney of Harrison volunteered and participated in the Muddy Miles with her daughters, Morgan, 17, Megan, 12, Madison, 14, and husband Dan. Team MacKinney wore bright blue shirts to rush through the mud. Before the heats, Morgan said she was looking forward to "getting muddy and dirty, just having fun with the family."
This was the MacKinneys' first time participating in a such a messy race, but they were undaunted by the thought of being covered in mud.
"I'm OK with it," Megan said. "It'll be fun."
The fourth annual Muddy Miles was a collaborative fundraiser for Heritage Health and The Salvation Army Kroc Center.
See More Photos On Flickr: To see more photos from the 2014 "Muddy Miles" Fundraising Event, click HERE.