First ever ‘Man vs. Mountain’ 5k dash to offer discount to students
Participants embrace obstacles through Mount Pleasant parks during the 2013 Mount vs Man competition.
Students willing to test their strength on a grueling, 5k off-road race can get a discount if they register before Jan. 30.
Mount Pleasant is hosting its own version of a fun run like the “Warrior Dash” and “Tough Mudder” with a mid-Michigan twist. Stretching throughout downtown, the first “Man vs. Mountain” race will offer 5k fans a winter-based obstacle course including both man-made and natural obstructions.
If students register by the end of the week, they can enter the code “CMUMVM” for $10 off the price of registration for the Feb. 7 race. The standard registration fee is $60. Registration closes Feb. 5.
“The snow could be very slippery, and all other aspects of winter will be thrown into this race that make it exciting,” said Steve Hofer, interim director of the Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation department.
Harsh cold and icy streets are only some of the obstacles participants face "Man vs. Mountain." Aside from the elements, the race features a wall climb, tire trap, hills and trails. Even the most brawny participants might be tested with strenuous sections like the “Log Carry” and a hay bale hurdle.
Creating a race from scratch was tough, Hofer said, but Parks and Recreation had help from the Mount Pleasant Conventions and Visitors Bureau, which also sponsor the event.
Conceived by CVB employee Matt Young, “Man Vs. Mountain” was engineered as a way to get city residents active during winter months. Seeing the popularity of intense obstacle-based races, Young and his co-workers thought they too could capitalize on the trend, said Chris Rowley, executive director the bureau.
Young died in 2013. The race is a continuation of his work with the bureau, Rowley said. The bureau hosted a version of the race in 2012, but this year’s run is managed solely by the recreation department.
Running “Man Vs. Mountain” is going to be an expensive venture, Hofer said – the race will end up costing the department $30,000. Sponsorship and registration fees will help Parks and Recreation make its money back.
Participants must register for the race by Feb. 5. To register, visit the event's webpage. Participants must be over 18 years old.
