330 people raced in Ottawa County mud run

OAK HARBOR –– More than 330 people from 16 states couldn't have asked for better conditions during a recent mud run in Ottawa County. Troy and Sandy Anthony, organizers of the local Black Swamp Dash, said the recent event at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds was a success. "These runs are put together all over the country from the local to national levels," Troy said. "They are designed to encourage people to get out and live a healthy lifestyle and to push you out of your comfort zone."Troy said some events, like the race in Ottawa County, serve as qualifying rounds for larger races across the country. The Black Swamp event, in which racers traverse an obstacle course in the mud, was designed for everyone from first-time runners to pro athletes. This past weekend's event consisted of more than 23 obstacles."We have pros here who qualify for both OCRWC (Obstacle Course World Championships) and NorAm Championships (North American Championships)," Troy said. "Kids nine and older can run with an adult and first-time runners can run just for fun."The course was designed and built by Anthonys."It is 3.2 miles," Troy said. "The big difference in our course is if you are a beginner you can challenge yourself with the extreme side or normal side."The pros competing were required to wear bands, complete each extreme obstacle and finish with the band in order to be a qualified competitor for OCRWC or NorAm Championships.A portion of every registration is donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio."We cannot thank our volunteers enough for all the help and hard work," Sandy said. "It doesn't matter the weather, they are out there not just to help us but also to be there for the runners."Black Swamp Runners will have two more runs for 2019. The Moonlight Mud Run, a night run, will be Aug. 17."We transform our course into a high intense music and light show with five 500-watt speakers throughout the course," Anthony said. "Laser Light shows will light the way with a variety of other lighting effects."The Night of the Dead run will be on Oct. 5."This is a haunted obstacle/mud run," Anthony said. "We transform the woods into a scary, ghostly, eerie place with unnatural sounds."More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.More than 330 runners participated in the Black Swamp Runners mud run on Saturday in Oak Harbor.