MudRunFun Magazine Oct. 2013 | Page 21

Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones. An already cool opportunity had just become insanely awesome. So on August 30th I eagerly arrived in Cincinnati, prepared for a once-in-lifetime racing experience. And I can honestly say now that not one thing about this weekend was less than amazing. Most of us arrived at King’s Domain midafternoon the day prior to the race, and were immediately impressed with the beauty of the sprawling 120-acres which boasts ample hills, streams, and forests. The camp itself is located about an hour outside of Cincinnati, and is committed to helping provide at-risk kids with a retreat away from the inner-city. They provide lodging, food, activities, and mentoring for kids who rarely experience any stability or support in their daily lives. Upon arrival we checked in, were shown to our adorable on-site cottages that were provided us as lodging for the weekend, and immediately prepared to get out on the grounds and check out the course. It was great to be given the advantage of having a sneak peak of the course pre-race. We were able to check out obstacles, ask questions of the race directors, and get a true feel for what was in store for us the following morning. And as we progressed through our tour of the course, we quickly realized that this race would be no-easy task. Since this course was built to be a permanent fixture on the camp’s grounds, obstacles were extremely sturdy, and many were constructed from the natural resources of their property. Large logs and tree trunks created the perfect material for challenging obstacles, as vines, branches, and logs marked the boundaries of the trails we were to run. 18