PHOTOS: Black Swamp Runner returns

OAK HARBOR — After a two-year absence, the muddiest 5K in Northern Ohio was back. More than 150 people showed up to the long-awaited return of the Black Swamp Runner, which took place Saturday morning at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds in Oak Harbor. At its base, the Black Swamp Runner is a 5K. But, in addition to over three miles of ground to cover, the course featured a multitude of obstacles for runners to overcome, each of which had a "challenge" and "extreme" side. Much of the course was covered in mud, and many of the obstacles involved working through muck to ensure not a single runner made it to the finish line clean. Runners who completed the race were rewarded with an official event T-shirt, bracelet and medal. The first to finish the inaugural race on the newly revamped course was 14-year-old Alex Tremonti. Tremonti, who runs cross country in high school, traveled from Michigan to take part in the race. He had participated in the Black Swamp Runner previously in the past, as well as several other similar muddy obstacle course 5K races. The Black Swamp Runner was initially founded more than a decade ago by Troy and Sandy Anthony, who ran the event as part of a race series at the fairground to encourage healthy lifestyles and raise money for a charitable cause they held near to their heart, the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Ohio. It was then purchased after a nearly two-year hiatus by longtime participant and area resident Michael Lindhorst. Lindhorst attested that he just saw the opportunity to be a part of something fun that was beneficial to the community and ran with it. Looking forward, Lindhorst hopes to potentially expand the event series once more to include other themes and to focus on other special groups and charities. As for his first event as owner, Lindhorst kept the beneficiary the Ronald McDonald House out of respect for the Anthonys. For information on upcoming races presented by Black Swamp Runner, follow the event's social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, or visit blackswamprunner.org.