Mud Mountain XV Fun Run video

Produced by Tom Atwood
Camera/ Joe Young
Music/Dava Jonah
©2010 Tom Atwood Media
All Rights Reserved

World premiere of 2010 race video: Mighty Joe Visits Mud Mountain; fun run video to be posted Tuesday

VIDEO FROM MUD MOUNTAIN XV
CAMERA/ JOE YOUNG
PRODUCER/EDITOR/ TOM ATWOOD
MUSIC/ DAVA JONAH (“BLACK GRASS” USED WITH PERMISSION)
© 2010 TOM ATWOOD MEDIA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Freudenburg sets new meet record at Mud Mountain XV; 5K draws 600 runners for first time ever; total registrations top 700 for another record

A beautiful sight (especially if you don't know how hot it was!)--600 runners at the start of Mud Mountain XV. Photo/Tom Atwood (click image to enlarge)

Zac Freudenburg holds 1st place plaque presented by Edwardsville Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Hightower. Photo/Tom Atwood

The 2005 course record set by Dustin Davis is still safe, but yesterday, 32-year-old Zac Freudenburg established a new meet record for the Mud Mountain 5K Classic, running 3.1 miles in 15:37. The record Davis set 5 years ago (15:36) was accomplished during an IHSA sectional meet, which was held on the Mud Mountain course at SIU Edwardsville. So Davis still holds the course record, but now, Freudenburg has the Mud Mountain record. And not far behind, running the 2nd fastest time ever at the event, is Eric "Jo Jo" Johannigmeier, the EHS grad who clocked in at a speedy 15:48 yesterday.

In terms of overall attendance, records were set for the 5K (600 runners - 582 in age divisions plus 18 Clydesdale runners), and a new record was set for total registrations (708). Both marks eclipse last year's race, which was held on a much cooler day during a much cooler summer.

Experience trumps youth at Mud Mountain XV: Freudenburg, age 32, and Caveny, age 40, triumph in the heat; race sets new record for attendance

Candace Caveny wears the Mud Mountain "Champion" dri-fit after claiming her second Mud Mountain title today. Photo/Tom Atwood

Zac Freudenburg about to cross the fiish line at Mud Mountain XV. Freudenburg ran the course in 15:37, just 2 seconds off the record pace established by Dustin Davis in 2005. Photo/Tom Atwood

Under a blazing sun hundreds of runners competed in the Mud Mountain 5K and One Mile Fun Run today at the SIU Edwardsville cross country course. The event set several records, including the record for overall registrations. More than 700 runners signed up this year, surpassing the old record of 684 set in 2009. Most remarkable is that this record was set on one of the hottest days of the summer, in the middle of an extended heat wave. And best of all, no serious medical problems were reported during the race due to the heat.

Here's the final registration breakdown for Mud Mountain XV:

Race day registrations: 92
Pre-registrations: 616 ( a new record)
Total registrations: 708 ( a new record)

Race Day! Mud Mountain enters new territory: more than 600 pre-register, a new record; how many more will sign up at the course this morning?

A total of 91 runners registered for Mud Mountain XV at the Cyclery Friday, contributing to a new, single-day record. Photo/Tom Atwood

Finally, the big day is here. Mud Mountain XV! And we start the day with some new records, including 616 runners pre-registered for the 5K and One Mile Fun Run. That is the largest number to pre=register ever at Mud Mountain, shattering last year's previous record of 553. One year more than 130 signed up at the course on race day; if that happens today, we will set a new overall registration record. Let's hope it's a safe race!

Here's the breakdown:

Entries received yesterday: 147 (a new single-day record); 91 at The Cyclery (and 6 others), 50 online (new single-day record)
2010 online entries: 267
2010 mail in (and other) entries: 349 (a new record)
Total entries to date: 616 (a new pre-registration record)

Last year --------
Entries received one year ago yesterday: 93 total , including 37 online, 56 at Cyclery, and 0 mail in
2009 online entries: 301
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 252
2009 total pre-registrations: 553
2009 final total: 684

2008 ---------
2008 total pre-registrations: 404
2008 final total: 567

Despite heat, registrations shatter single-day record; more than 100 new entries received today; crowd at Cyclery picks up packets, t-shirts

Runners take advantage of last chance to register for Mud Mountain XV at mail-in prices today at The Cyclery. Photos/Tom Atwood

The temperature today outside The Cyclery in Edwardsville was 95 degrees, but inside, in air-conditioned comfort, dozens of runners signed up to run Mud Mountain tomorrow morning, despite the heat. In fact, already today, a new record has been established for entries in a single day: 115 (and runners are still registering online until 11 p.m.) So, what does this mean? It means that a new record for total race registration could be set this year. But for that to happen, a lot of runners have to sign up tomorrow morning, on race day. We'll see!

Here's the breakdown, as of 5 p.m.:

Entries received so far today: 115 (a new single-day record); 86 at The Cyclery, 29 online
2010 online entries: 247
2010 mail in (and other) entries: 337
Total entries to date: 581 (a new pre-registration record)

1 day til race day; daily entries wilt in the heat; packet pickup today at Cyclery; set up today at the course

Superintendent Dr. Ed Hightower, who is the official race starter for Mud Mountain XV, surrounded by Edwardsville runners. Photo/Tom Atwood

Today pre-registered runners can pick up their Mud Mountain t-shirts and race bibs at The Cyclery, 2470 Troy Road in Edwardsville. Also, starting at 7:30 a.m., volunteers will begin setting up the course for tomorrow's event.

The continuing hot weather seems to be taking its toll on race entries. Yesterday 36 signed up for Mud Mountain XV, compared to 57 last year on this date. Hopefully more will take advantage of the registration and packet pickup today at the Cyclery.

Here's the breakdown so far:

Entries received yesterday: 36 (11 mail in, 25 online)
2010 online entries: 218
2010 mail-in entries: 251
2010 total to date: 469

Last year ----------
Entries received one year ago yesterday: 57 total (a single day record), including 48 online (new single day record), and 9 mail in
2009 online entries: 264 (new record)
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 196
2009 total to date: 460
2009 final total: 684

2008------
2008 online to date: 135
2008 mail-in to date: 211
2008 total to date: 346
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

KSDK-TV airs report on Mud Mountain XV, links to race website

This story from reporter Kasey Joyce aired on "Today in St. Louis" on July 22, 2010.

2 days til race day; Cyclery to host early packet pickup, registration Friday; race entries for Mud Mountain XV reach 433

Runners can avoid the race day crunch at Mud Mountain by taking advantage of early packet pickup tomorrow at the Cyclery, 2470 Troy Road in Edwardsville. A pre-registration booth will be set up at the Cyclery between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. where registered runners can pick up their bib number and race t-shirt. Also, runners can register at the Cyclery for the mail in price of $15 for age 18 and under, $20 for adults. Souvenir dri-fit t-shirts will also go on sale Friday at the Cyclery for $25. (Timing chips still need to be picked up at the course on Saturday by 7:30 a.m.)

Here's the update on race registrations to date:

Entries received yesterday: 48 (8 mail in, 18 hand-delivered, 22 online)
2010 online entries: 193
2010 mail-in entries: 240
2010 total to date: 433

Last year ------
Entries received one year ago yesterday: 37 (30 online, 7 mail in)
2009 online entries: 216
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 187
2009 total to date: 403
2009 final total: 684

2008 ---------
2008 online to date: 115
2008 mail-in to date: 207
2008 total to date: 313
2008 final total: 567

Who will win Mud Mountain XV? And how many will run? A race director's bold predictions.

by Tom Atwood
Race Director, Mud Mountain 5K

I'm listening to the thunder as I write this. It's storming again. This Summer of 2010 will be remembered for its big clouds (see my photo at left from last week), big storms, and big heat. What does that have to do with who will win Mud Mountain XV Saturday? Maybe nothing, but I think it has had an effect on how many will run the 15th Annual Cross Country Classic.

For weeks now the race entries have been running ahead of last year's record pace, when 684 runners signed up for Mud Mountain 2009 and the One Mile Fun Run, the highest total ever. But in the last few days, the gap has been narrowing, and by race day, I predict we will have a slightly smaller turnout than in 2009. My exact prediction: 663. I think the extended period of hot weather during the past few weeks has discouraged many runners, has even kept some from training for Mud Mountain. And I am afraid that on Saturday, when runners who are "on the fence" wake up to another steamy summer morning, too many of them will crank up the air conditioner and go back to bed!

(By the way, look at the Countdown Poll in the right hand column and you'll see that more people chose 650-700 than any other option. Last year I predicted that 678 runners would sign up; the final total was 684.)

Now for the winners. This is where it gets really tricky. Last year I picked a dark horse, Jo Jo Johannigmeier, to win Mud Mountain XIV. But shortly before the race, Jo Jo suffered an injury related to orthotics he was wearing, and two runners from O'Fallon finished first and second. This summer, whenever I see Jo Jo and ask him how he's doing and if he can win the race, he looks at me like I am the devil. Or like I'm crazy. And so, I pick Jo Jo again to win this year. Although Dustin Davis, Garrett Sweatt or other runners I don't even know about could end up winning.

In the women's division I picture Candace Caveny, the O'Fallon cross country coach holding hands across the finish line with Ariane Wright, the sophomore from Edwardsville High School who beat Candace last year and grabbed the 1st place plaque. A dead heat. Or maybe Ariane will break 20 minutes (her goal) and win two in a row? And maybe I'll be wrong about the attendance and we'll set a new record this year?