One mile fun run video posted; Mud Mountain Countdown's work is done; see you at MM XV in 2010

MUD MOUNTAIN XIV FUN RUN VIDEO
Produced by Tom Atwood
Camera/Joe Young
© 2009 Tom Atwood
All Rights Reserved

This is the final post for Mud Mountain Countdown 2009. Thanks for visiting this site, and thanks for your interest in Mud Mountain. We invite you to visit www.mudmountain.org (official website of the Edwardsville Cross Country and Track & Field Booster Club), and also www.xcphoto.blogspot.com (for daily photos during the cross country and track & field seasons).

Mud Mountain XIV was an unqualified success. Please join us in July 2010 for Mud Mountain XV.

Video for 2009 5K uploaded; One Mile Fun Run video to be posted soon

Mud Mountain XIV 5K Race
Produced by Tom Atwood
Camera/Joe Young
Music/Dava Jonah
© 2009 Tom Atwood
All Rights Reserved

Wright, Dunbar win Mud Mountain XIV; entries total 684, a new record; weather breaks for perfect race

Ariane Wright, 14, champion of the Mud Mountain XIV women's division.

Dan Dunbar, 20, of O'Fallon, is the 2009 men's division champion.


The most crowded field in the history of the Mud Mountain 5K Classic gathered among storm clouds Saturday morning, but by the time Dustin Davis fired the starter's pistol, it was sunny and (relatively) cool for Mud Mountain XIV. [Officially, 77 degrees, relative humidity 70% at 8:10 a.m. when the 5K began.]

The biggest news in this year's race? Fourteen-year-old Ariane Wright of Edwardsville High School. Ariane won the women's overall championship by running the 3.1 mile course in 20:08.1, missing the exclusive "sub-20 minute club" that only a very few female runners belong to. Ariane becomes the youngest winner ever in the women's division.

In the men's division, Daniel Dunbar, 20, of O'Fallon took the title in 16:30.1 For complete results, visit www.mudmountain.org.

Brief showers and some thunder in the early morning may have held down race-day registrations this year. A total of 131 runners signed up at the course yesterday, compared to 163 last year. Still, the overall number of entrants shattered last year's record. Here are the final numbers:

2009 online entries: 301 (new record)
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 252
2009 Race Day entries: 131
2009 total: 684 (614 5K, 70 Fun Run)

Last year -
2008 Race Day entries: 163
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

Race Day! 553 pre-register for Mud Mountain XIV, shattering last year's record; weather forecast suggests possible wet race

In record numbers, runners have signed up to run today's 14th Annual Mud Mountain 5K Classic. A total of 553 registrations have been received, most of them online. Meanwhile, a slight chance of showers could delay the start of the race, if there is lightning and thunder. If it is just raining, the race will go on as scheduled at 8:00 a.m. Lightning could delay the start. If there is lightning at race time, runners will be urged to wait in their cars, until the lightning stops. The race will begin 30 minutes after the last sign of lightning.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 93 total (a single day record), including 37 online, 56 at Cyclery, and 0 mail in
2009 online entries: 301 (new record)
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 252
2009 total to date: 553 (pre-registrations record)

Last year -
2008 total pre-registrations: 404
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

1 day til race day; online entries drive record pre-registration; signup totals 460 so far; Mud Mountain website gets 1,000 hits yesterday

With one day til Mud Mountain XIV, entry totals so far point to a huge turnout for the race. The difference this year is online signups through Active.com. It appears that, for the first time in Mud Mountain history, online pre-registrations will exceed mail-in entries, and by a wide margin. If the weather on race day is good, it is likely runners will gather for what could be the largest Mud Mountain 5K ever.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain so far?

Entries received yesterday: 57 total (a single day record), including 48 online (a 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 (pre-registrations record)

Last year -
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)

2 days til race day; pre-registrations reach 400 for 2nd time ever; Mud Mountain XIV t-shirts arrive to rave reviews

Last year, for the first time ever, pre-registrations for Mud Mountain topped 400. But it happened the day before the race. This year that mark was topped on Wednesday, and with 2 days to go, it seems possible that 500 runners may sign up before race day. If that happens, the record of 567 total runners seems certain to fall, and a total approaching 700 is not an impossibility.

In the meantime, the 2009 Mud Mountain T-shirts arrived, hot off the presses, in time for a photo shoot (above) with members of the Edwardsville High School cross country team. The shirts, printed by Gillans Graphics, were designed by EHS head cross country coach George Patrylak, and booster club member Petra Wright. Congratulations to both on a great shirt.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain so far?

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

Last year -
2008 online to date: 115
2008 mail-in to date: 207
2008 total to date: 313
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

3 days til race day; single day entries yesterday (56) shatter record; 366 runners signed up to date; final t-shirt design unveiled

Gillans Graphics is printing 700 chocolate brown Mud Mountain t-shirts today, with the logo (above) on the front of the t-shirt, and the sponsor logos on the back, with the phrase, "Meet Me at Mud Mountain."

Meanwhile, Tuesday set a one-day record in terms of race entries overall (56), and online entries for one day (27).

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 56 (27 online, 16 mail in, 13 others)
2009 online entries: 186
2009 mail-in (and other) entries: 180
2009 total to date: 366

Last year -
2008 online to date: 97
2008 mail-in to date: 195
2008 total to date: 292
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

4 days til race day; entries creep to 310; will last year's attendance record be broken?

Last year a record number of 567 runners signed up for Mud Mountain XIII. In the 5K there were 485 runners; in the fun run, 82. Will more register this year, and set a new record? At this point, that is difficult to predict. Entries are running ahead of last year's pace, but have slowed in the last few days. The real wild card is what happens on race day. Last year, 163 runners signed up at the course on Saturday morning (also a record). If that many or more enter on race day this year, it's likely a new overall mark will be set.

Why does it matter? Mainly because Mud Mountain is a fundraising event for the Edwardsville Cross Country and Track & Field Booster Club, which supports running programs at Liberty and Lincoln middle schools, and at Edwardsville High School. The more people at Mud Mountain, the more money raised for those programs. So, if you are reading this, and have not signed up to run, click here.

How many runners have signed up so far for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 19 (12 online, 7 mail in)
2009 online entries: 159
2009 mail-in entries: 151
2009 total to date: 310

Last year -
Entries received 1 year ago - 31 (all mail in due to tech problem at Active.com)
2008 online to date: 79
2008 mail-in to date: 183
2008 total to date: 262
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

5 days til race day; Mud Mountain XIV draws entries from 5 states, runners ages 3 to 75

This year, a 3-year-old is signed up for the one mile fun run at Mud Mountain XIV. That will make Ellie Hughes the youngest runner in the history of the event. The oldest runner entered so far in the 5K is a 75-year-old Fenton, Missouri woman. Runners from five states (Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma and Louisana) have signed up. One family (the Laurents) will enter nine runners. Eight runners are over the age of 60. Eleven 5K runners are under the age of 12. Good luck to all.

How many runners have signed up so far for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 8 (all online)
2009 online entries: 147
2009 mail-in entries: 144
2009 total to date: 291

Last year -
Entries received 1 year ago - 8 (all online)
2008 online to date: 79
2008 mail-in to date: 152
2008 total to date: 231
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

6 days til race day; entries approach 300; final pre-race Mud Mountain meeting for volunteers scheduled for Tuesday

The final pre-race meeting of the Edwardsville Cross Country and Track & Field Booster Club, and for volunteers who will work at Mud Mountain XIV is scheduled for this Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Country (the building next to the track at Edwardsville High School). Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 27 (3 online, 24 mail in)
2009 online entries: 139
2009 mail-in entries: 144
2009 total to date: 283

Last year -
2008 online to date: 71
2008 mail-in to date: 152
2008 total to date: 223
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

One week til race day; entries to date total 256; Cyclery offers pre-race registration and t-shirt pickup next Friday

Pre-registered runners wanting to get a few extra minutes of sleep on race day can pick up their bib number and t-shirt for Mud Mountain XIV the day before the race at the Cyclery and Fitness Center. The Cyclery is offering pre-race pickup on Friday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 2470 Troy Road in Edwardsville. The Cyclery will also be registering runners on Friday - the last chance to sign up at a reduced price (registration is $25 at the course on race day for runners over the age of 18; for runners 11 -18 the price is always $15, even on the day of the race.) Picking up bibs and t-shirts the day before the race will ease the crunch on race day. However, 5K runners must still pick up their timing chips at the course at least a half-hour before Mud Mountain XIV begins at 8:00 a.m. (Fun runners do not need timing chips)

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries received yesterday: 19 (8 online, 11 mail in)
2009 online entries: 137
2009 mail-in entries: 119
2009 total to date: 256

Last year -
2008 online to date: 63
2008 mail-in to date: 152
2008 total to date: 215
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

8 days til race day; online registrations set single day record, entries total 237 to date; Ellie Twesten to sing National Anthem

Mud Mountain thanks Ellie Twesten, a senior at Edwardsville High School, who has agreed to sing the National Anthem at this year's Mud Mountain 5K Classic. It looks like Ellie will perform before a large crowd. Online entries yesterday set a one day record (21), and overall, entries for Mud Mountain XIV to date are now at 237.


Here's the breakdown:
2009 online entries: 129
2009 mail-in entries 108
2009 total to date: 237

Last year -----
2008 online to date: 53
2008 mail-in to date: 138
2008 total to date: 191
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

9 days til race day; entries to date total 200; Davis "honored" to be chosen as honorary race starter for Mud Mountain XIV

Dustin Davis, who holds the record for the Mud Mountain course (15:36 at an IHSA meet), will be the honorary race starter for Mud Mountain XIV. Davis joins past honorary starters Craig Virgin and Stephen Pifer. Davis, who finished 2nd last year in Mud Mountain XIII, is injured (stress fracture) and will be unable to compete in this year's race. Davis says starting Mud Mountain XIV is a "huge honor."

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

2009 online entries: 108
2009 mail-in entries 92
2009 total to date: 200

Last year -----
2008 online to date: 47
2008 mail-in to date: 121
2008 total to date: 168
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

10 days til race day; race entries reach 181; t-shirt design finalized for Mud Mountain XIV

Tuesday night the Mud Mountain Committee selected a design for this year's race t-shirt. The logo was created by EHS cross country coach George Patrylak and booster club member Petra Wright. Seven hundred t-shirts will be printed, featuring the many Mud Mountain sponsors on the back of the t-shirt, along with the phrase, "Meet Me at Mud Mountain." All pre-registered runners are guaranteed a t-shirt; those who register on race day will also get shirts, until we reach 700.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries yesterday: 6 (4 online, 2 mail)
2009 online entries: 101
2009 mail-in entries 80
2009 total to date: 181

Last year -----
2008 online to date: 44
2008 mail-in to date:117
2008 total to date: 161
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

11 days til race day; 175 runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV, including the Stevens family from Owasso, Oklahoma, 400 miles away

Joan, Larry, Matt and Michelle Stevens pose after running a race in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. The entire family is entered in Mud Mountain XIV on July 25. (Photo courtesy Larry Stevens)

Entries for this year's Mud Mountain 5K Classic continue ahead of last year's record-setting pace. Most of the runners signed up so far are from Illinois and Missouri, although one runner is coming from Denver, Colorado. And an entire family from Oklahoma, the Stevens family, will be competing here on July 25.

How does a family that lives more than 400 miles from Edwardsville choose Mud Mountain? "We are traveling from Oklahoma to Indiana for vacation with family," says Joan Stevens. "And we are spending the night in the St. Louis area, so we were looking for 5Ks in the area to run as we often run them in the Tulsa area. Our daughter, Michelle, is actually going to be running cross-country and track for Missouri Southern State University this fall and we thought it would be a great opportunity for her to experience another college cross-country course.

"I simply did a Google search for 5Ks in St. Louis to find your race and it looked like it would be fun and challenging."

Good luck to the Stevens family, and to Michelle as she continues her cross-country career at MSSU.

How many runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV?

Entries yesterday: 15 (11 online, 4 mail)
2009 online entries: 97
2009 mail-in entries 78
2009 total to date: 175

Last year -----
2008 online to date: 41
2008 mail-in to date: 108
2008 total to date: 149
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

12 days til race day; entries to date total 160; Mud Mountain Committee meets Tuesday

The Mud Mountain Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday July 14 at Imo's in Edwardsville. Entries for Mud Mountain XIV have reached 160. Here's the breakdown:

Entries yesterday: 8
2009 online entries: 88
2009 mail-in entries 72
2009 total to date: 160
2008 online to date: 36
2008 mail-in to date: 94
2008 total to date: 130
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

13 days til race day; race entries surpass 150 for Mud Mountain XIV; runners test volleyball skills at annual XC picnic

More than 60 Edwardsville cross country runners and their families kicked off the running season at the annual cross country picnic at Glik Park Saturday. The picnic was also an opportunity for parents to volunteer to help at Mud Mountain XIV on July 25.

Entries for the race received on Saturday established a one-day record so far this year (18). More than 150 runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV. Here's the breakdown:

Entries yesterday: 18
2009 online entries: 80
2009 mail-in entries 72
2009 total to date: 152
2008 online to date: 34
2008 mail-in to date: 85
2008 total to date: 119
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

Two weeks til race day; entries total 136 to date; volunteer for Mud Mountain XIV at today's XC picnic

Just a reminder - today the annual cross country picnic for all Edwardsville cross-country runners and their families will be held at Glik Park. The picnic begins at 11 a.m. with a cookout at the park, and features sand volleyball until 2 pm. This event is for middle school and high school cross country families. It traditionally kicks off the cross country season, and is also where parents can sign up to volunteer for Mud Mountain XIV, the fundraising race for Edwardsville's cross country and track & field programs, which will be held July 25.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided by the Edwardsville Cross Country and Track & Field Booster Club. Families whose last names begin with letters A-L should bring salads or side dishes; families whose last names begin with M-Z should bring chips or desserts.

Meanwhile, a dozen new names have been added to the Mud Mountain roster. To see the complete list to date, click here. Here's the breakdown:

Entries yesterday: 14
2009 online entries: 77
2009 mail-in entries 59
2009 total to date: 136
2008 online to date: 31
2008 mail-in to date: 73
2008 total to date: 104
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

15 days til race day; glitch on Active.com briefly halts online registrations; 124 currently signed up

Thanks to Vickie Schultz, a runner who notified Mud Mountain of a problem at Active.com, the online race registration website. Apparently, registration for Mud Mountain XIV had been unavailable overnight.However, the servers are up and running again, and runners can register on Active.com, or just download an entry form from www.mudmountain.org, and mail it in. There is plenty of time until the race on July 25.

2009 online entries: 73
2009 mail-in entries 51
2009 total to date: 124
2008 total to date: 99
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

16 days til race day; entries to date total 119; race website gets 500 hits yesterday

As race day approaches, interest in Mud Mountain XIV is growing. The official race website (www.mudmountain.org) received more than 500 "hits" yesterday, an unusually high number. Will that eventually translate into an unusually high number of race entries?

2009 online entries: 73
2009 mail-in entries 46
2009 total to date: 119
2008 total to date: 84
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

17 days til race day; entries total 115 for Mud Mountain XIV, including dozens of Weight Watchers

So far, entries for Mud Mountain XIV are far ahead of last year at this time, and one reason could be that, for the first time, dozens of members of Weight Watchers have signed up for the race.

Weight Watchers and Active.com have chosen Mud Mountain XIV as a "challenge race" for Weight Watchers members in the Midwest. It is estimated that as many as 150 Weight Watchers will sign up for Mud Mountain this year.

Here's an excerpt from a letter sent from Shannon Iberger of Active.com:

"We are currently managing a “couch to 5k training program” for Weight Watchers called The Momentum Walk-it Challenge. The Momentum Walk-It Challenge encourages all Weight Watchers meetings members and Weight Watchers Online subscribers to get active this spring. As a measurable goal for the members we are encouraging them to sign up for their first 5k walk/run and are providing them with access to the tools they need to reach their goal.

We value our current relationship with the Mud Mountain Cross Country Classic 5k and have chosen your event as the St. Louis Market’s featured race for this program! We have 5 Team Trainers with a total of 150 members that will be participating in your 5k and your race currently has nationwide exposure on our website (www.teamweightwatchers.com – “Get Started” – “Sign up for a 5k”). The program launched on April 12, if you have seen a rise in your registrations it may be due in part to this program.

We would like to have a presence near the finish line on race day in support of all of these members who will be crossing your finish line for their very first time. We would be providing all of the branded Weight Watchers collateral for the presence including a 6-foot table/table cover, cooler with waters for the members, and an umbrella with a stand to provide some shade relief! All we would need is a designated space to set-up and reserve for the Team Trainers and members.

There is also an excellent potential for media exposure at the race given the reach of this national program and all the buzz already forming around The Momentum Walk-it Challenge. This spring 150 Active.com Team Trainers will be leading 4,500 members in training for their first 5k. After two weeks of the program website going live, we have an additional 27,000 members across the country that have decided to start teams in their neighborhood and are electing their own team trainers to lead them through the journey. And this number is rapidly growing by the day!

We are extremely excited to work with you and to bring Weight Watchers to your incredible event!"

18 days til race day; 105 runners now registered; flyers, posters distributed

Posters like this one were distributed yesterday along with hundreds of Mud Mountain flyers and race entry forms. The flyers and posters were sent to various running stores in the St. Louis area, and also were distributed to local businesses, YMCA's and the SIUE Fitness Center.

To date, 105 runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV. Here's the breakdown:

2009 online entries: 63
2009 mail-in entries 42
2009 total to date: 105
2008 total to date: fewer than 68
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

19 days til race day; entry total for Mud Mountain XIV reaches 100

As of today, 100 runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV. This is the earliest that number has been reached. Here's the breakdown:

2009 online entries: 59
2009 mail-in entries 41
2009 total to date: 100
2008 total to date: fewer than 68
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

20 days til race day; 95 runners now entered; cross country picnic next Saturday

The annual cross country picnic for all Edwardsville cross-country runners and their families will be held this Saturday, July 11, at Glik Park. The picnic begins at 11 am with a cookout at the park, and features sand volleyball until 2 pm.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided by the Edwardsville Cross Country and Track & Field Booster Club. More information about what to bring (drinks, side dishes, desserts) will come later this week.

This event is for middle school and high school cross country families. It traditionally kicks off the cross country season, and is also where parents can sign up to volunteer for Mud Mountain XIV, the fundraising race for Edwardsville's cross country and track & field programs, which will be held July 25.

3 week til race day; race entries total 93; Happy Fourth of July!

Awards ceremony at Mud Mountain 2008.

With 21 days til the running of Mud Mountain XIV, the pace of registrations is beginning to pick up. Eight entries were received yesterday, bringing the total to date to 93. Here's the breakdown:

2009 online entries: 55
2009 mail-in entries 38
2009 total to date: 93
2008 total to date: fewer than 65
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

22 days til race day; 85 runners have signed up so far; 2nd photo shoot adds to publicity posters

Devon Dudding is among more than a dozen Edwardsville runners who posed for publicity photos this week for Mud Mountain XIV. A second photo shoot was held yesterday at the SIUE cross country-course. Race t-shirts from the past five years are featured in the posters, which will be distributed in the St. Louis area, and posted online.

23 days til race day; entries grow to 84; photo shoot produces publicity posters for ad campaign: "Meet Me At Mud Mountain"

Runners from current and past Edwardsville cross-country teams took part in a photo shoot Wednesday to publicize Mud Mountain XIV. The photos, featuring athletes wearing Mud Mountain t-shirts from previous races, will be used on posters distributed in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and also as cover pages on the official website for the race, www.mudmountain.org.

Thanks to the athletes who took part. Photos will be used in the days leading up to Mud Mountain XIV.

So far, 84 runners have signed up for Mud Mountain XIV. Here are the totals:

2009 online entries: 53
2009 mail-in entries 31
2009 total to date: 84
2008 total to date: 38
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

24 days til race day; runners registering on race day need to arrive early

This year's Mud Mountain 5K starts a half-hour earlier than in 2008. The reason? To beat the heat. So, to accommodate runners who have not pre-registered, race-day registration will be available at the course starting at 6:00 a.m. on July 25. However, because we are using an electronic chip timing system this year, all runners must be registered at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the race. So, race day registration will close at 7:30 a.m.

Best advice: register now by clicking on this link.

25 days til race day; registrations reach 80; ages of entrants range from 5 to 67

O'Fallon High School cross country coach Alan Elfrink finishes strong at Mud Mountain 2008.

Early entry totals continue to be impressive for Mud Mountain XIV. As of today, 80 runners have entered either the 5K race or one-mile fun run. The youngest entrant (in the fun run) is 5-years old. The oldest entrant so far is 67.

2009 online entries: 49
2009 mail-in entries 31
2009 total to date: 80
2008 total to date: 38
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

26 days til race day; Mud Mountain committee meets tonight

Kent Wories, former Metro-East Lutheran standout,wins Mud Mountain XIII last year.

With less than a month til race day, the Mud Mountain planning committee meets at 6:30 p.m. at Imo's this evening. On the agenda: t-shirt design, flyer/poster distribution, additional ambulance/paramedics, race day assignments (concessions, parking, set up, registration), and any other important matters.

27 days til race day; runners can now check entry status online

As runners register for Mud Mountain XIV, their entry information (name, age, gender and age/weight division) is being posted on the official race website (www.mudmountain.org). After you sign up, visit the website and click on "See 2009 Entries." Make sure the information there is correct. If not, contact the race director. Race entries will be updated daily between now and race day July 25.

28 days til race day; race entries total 74 to date

Mud Mountain XIV is exactly 4 weeks away. The majority of runners register the week prior to the race, with as many as a hundred or more registering at the course on race day. Here's the breakdown of race entries received so far:

2009 online entries: 46
2009 mail-in entries 28
2009 total to date: 74
2008 total to date: 38
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

29 days til race day; maintenance crews smooth course; Mud Mountain committee meets Monday

For a guided tour of the entire Mud Mountain course with course record-holder Dustin Davis, watch the video above.

I had a pleasant, although steamy, lunchtime run at Mud Mountain yesterday. Pleasant because severe erosion on the course from recent rain has been repaired by maintenance crews. Where there were deep ruts on Mud Mountain, and along mile 2, there is now smooth, soft dirt. The grass is still a bit long, but it will be cut at least twice between now and race day on July 25. It's a beautiful course. You can see it all in less than 5 minutes by watching the video tour above with Dustin Davis.

p.s. the Mud Mountain Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 29 at Imo's.

30 days til race day; entries total 70 runners, most register online

Registrations for Mud Mountain XIV continue to grow at a steady pace, ahead of last year at this time, and far ahead of 2007's pace. Here's the breakdown to date:

2009 online registrations: 45
2009 mail-in registrations: 25
2009 total to date: 70
2008 total to date: 38
2008 final total: 567 (485 5K entries, 82 fun-run entries)

31 days till race day; never fear: porta-potties have been ordered for MM XIV

Imagine all these runners, with no place to go? Fortunately, the all-important porta-potties have been ordered for this year's Mud Mountain 5K. Plenty to go around. The facilities will remain at the course this fall for use during high school and middle school cross country meets.

32 days til race day; entries for Mud Mountain XIV total 63, far ahead of last year's pace

As of today, 63 runners have signed up to run Mud Mountain XIV on July 25. That compares to a total of 38 runners registered last year at this time. Of the 63 entries, 19 were mailed in, 44 were received online.

33 days til race day; early entries total 56; recent heavy rains damage course

Heavy rain during May and June has created an erosion problem on portions of the Mud Mountain course. Deep gullies have formed on the third mile, known as "Mud Mountain." Maintenance crews from SIU Edwardsville and Edwardsville High School have been notified about the damage, and will be working to repair the course during the next few weeks. For now, those who are training for the race on the course are urged to be careful, especially on mile three.

34 days til race day; flyers printed, to be distributed this week

More than 500 flyers with race entry forms have been printed for Mud Mountain XIV. These flyers will be distributed this week to St. Louis area running stores and businesses. Posters will also be printed. While some runners still use these flyers to register for the race, more and more either download the entry form from www.mudmountain.org, or register online at Active.com.

5 weeks til race day; new this year at Mud Mountain: chip timing

This year Mud Mountain moves into the electronic age. The race will no longer be timed by hand; instead, we have hired Mattoon Multi-sport to time the race using ChampionChip timing. Runners will be given an electronic chip. This should make the results easier and faster to post after the race. According to Mattoon Multi-sport: "We offer professional timing with the most advanced timing system in the world. Chip timing from ChampionChip. State of the art technology with a chip the size of a quarter that is tied on the shoe or strapped on the ankle with a neoprene band. This chip technology registers in the system every time it crosses the specially designed ground mats. We can get results virtually as soon as [runners] cross the finish line, then upload the results on the net via phone modem."

37 days til race day; entries total 56; have YOU signed up to run?

Jason Olszowka finished 2nd in last year's race in a time of 16:13. Photo/Bryan Daley.

To register online to run Mud Mountain XIV, click here.

38 days til race day; Mud Mountain joins Facebook; Edwardsville Fire Department to provide ambulance, paramedics on July 25

Again this year the Edwardsville Fire Department has agreed to provide an ambulance and two paramedics at Mud Mountain. The paramedics will be there to provide assistance to any runners who are injured, or who have any heat-related problems during the race.

Also, Mud Mountain now has a site on Facebook where runners can get together, discuss the race and see photos and videos. To join the group on Facebook, click here.

39 days til race day; race entries total 54; sponsor list grows to 13 local and area businesses

Stephen Pifer wins Mud Mountain 2004.

So far, 13 area businesses have signed up to sponsor Mud Mountain XIV:

Hurford Architects
R. Cann Electric
Brickman Orthodontics
Randy Dunn/Edwards Jones
Stratus Building Solutions

Running Start
Family Physicians of Madison County
Dalla Riva Medical Cosmetics
Tri City Driving School
Bauer Orthodontic Specialists, PC
Conoco Phillips Wood River Refinery
Midwest Petroleum
Mastroianni Orthodontics

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