June 17, 2012: Jeffrey Boehmer makes his way through the Muddy Mayhem obstacle at the Warrior Dash at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (AP/The Scranton Times & Tribune)
LONG POND, Pa. – More than 10,000 people trekked to northeastern Pennsylvania to scale walls, leap fire and crawl commando-style through a mud pit topped with barbed wire.
Willingly. For kicks. And they paid money to do it.
That's obstacle course racing for you: grueling, mud-spattered and, to its legions of fans, addictive fun.
Virtually overnight, obstacle courses have become a favorite diversion of thrill-seekers and weekend warriors. Hundreds of events around the country require participants to go up, over, under and through to the finish line.
Three of the top courses -- Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and Spartan Race -- expect nearly 2 million runners in 2012.
The races are a novelty, and novelties usually wear off. But promoters insist they have staying power.
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