Missouri's Dirtiest Little Secret Spreads Throughout the Midwest

St. Louis, MO, August 12, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Missouri's dirtiest little secret isn't a mystery anymore. Teams of thrill seekers and fitness fanatics from across the country have spread the word about the area's homegrown phenomenon. What once was practically a covert operation has turned into a full-fledged mud-for-all thanks to a stellar turnout of 850 runners and more than 1,000 spectators at last May's race.

The Battlegrounds at Cedar Lake, the Midwest's only permanent mud run obstacle course, will hold its fifth bi-annual race on Sat., Oct. 4 beginning at 8 a.m. Runners can select either a 5k/3.2-mile or a five-mile mud run where they will experience more than 30 military-themed obstacles for those who are physically and mentally fit. The Battlegrounds is located at 950 State Highway 00 in Wright City, Mo. next to Cedar Lake Cellars winery and event center.

The Battlegrounds added a new option specifically designated for elite runners to race others with similar abilities. The 8 a.m. wave is limited to the first 250 runners, including both individual and four-person teams, who can maintain an 8 minute 30-second mile pace. A new 11:30 a.m. "Mud, Guns & Hoses" wave is reserved for all police (on the guns' team) against firefighters and EMS/EMT personnel (on the hoses' team) plus their friends and family to battle both the run and each other.

Proceeds from the mud run will benefit The BackStoppers, a non-profit organization founded in 1959 to support the families of fallen heroes in the greater St. Louis region. The group uses their funding to emotionally and financially assist families of police, firefighters and EMS/EMT personnel that are dealing with the loss of their first responder.

The Battlegrounds also is working with Barrel Aid, which partners with the non-profit Mission-Haiti.org to supply clean shoes, fresh water, food and schooling for more than 1,600 unserved children in Southern Haiti. Barrel Aid attends mud races from around the country and collects donated shoes, which are laundered and transported in barrels to Mission Haiti in Ti-Rivier.

The run's obstacles, which vary each year to ensure new challenges, include the torpedo launcher consisting of a 100-foot water slide that empties into a 12-foot deep water pit. Other highlights include the gauntlet, which consists of six lanes of varying difficulties situated over an eight-foot deep water pit. The Battlegrounds incorporates all types of terrains including creeks, woods, fields and valleys that add to the intense level of competition.

On-site showers are available for mud run participants. The event, which is free to spectators who can easily watch the run from many vantage points, includes a free kids' mud zone area. Post-event activities include individual and group award presentations, food and drinks.

The Battlegrounds will hold a canned food drive at the race to benefit Operation Food Search, which was established in 1981 to address the growing problem of hunger in the St. Louis area. As the largest distributor of free food in the bi-state area, the organization distributes 2.75 million pounds of food and household essentials to nearly 300 community partner agencies.

All participants must be 18 years of age or older. The race is $90 before Aug. 31 and $100 before Sept. 30. Tickets are $140 on the day of the event. Registration and awards are available for individuals, as well as teams of four that can be comprised of men, women or a combination of both. Groups of five or more are highly encouraged. For more information, call (314) 569-3005.