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. (In fact, we have already received more than 20 early entries through this program.) 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!"
Kent Wories, former Metro-East Lutheran standout,wins Mud Mountain XIII last year.
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:
Jason Olszowka finished 2nd in last year's race in a time of 16:13. Photo/Bryan Daley.
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.
Stephen Pifer wins Mud Mountain 2004.
The Mud Mountain planning committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Imo's tonight. On the agenda: t-shirt design, course conditions, medals and awards, ambulance, and followup sponsor calls. See you there!
Some years, if it rains heavily, the 5K course at SIU Edwardsville can get sloppy, especially the hill on mile 3 known as "Mud Mountain." But during a particularly dry period a few years back, race organizers created large "mud pools" out of inflatable swimming pools for younger runners to enjoy after the race. That practice was discontinued in 2007, mainly because it was too much trouble, and disposing of the mud was a problem.
Thanks to Conoco Phillips for once again sponsoring the Mud Mountain 5K Cross Country Classic. More sponsors are being sought for this year's race. For more information, click here.
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.
Last year a record number of runners signed up for Mud Mountain XIII and the One Mile Fun Run--a total of 567. So far this year, 48 entries have been received (38 online through Active.com, and 10 mailed to PO Box 135). That may seem like a small number, but one month before race day last year, just 38 runners had signed up, and the year before, only 6. So, the early indications are that this year's race might, just might, set a new record. Stay tuned.
