Obstacle course tests the mettle of contestants
OCEAN CITY — It was cold and breezy but dry Feb. 15, pretty much what you’d expect for Ocean City’s second annual Winter Warrior Challenge.
“Early in the week we were prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. It looked like there could be upwards of an inch of rain during the event, but it’s the Winter Warrior event so we are rain or shine. Last year we had the event in the snow, so we are prepared for whatever the elements bring us,” Community Services Department Director Dan Kelchner said.
Featuring a grueling course for adults that started with a boardwalk run, advanced to a dune climb and then headed into Carey Stadium for a series of obstacles sandwiched between laps around the track, the event tested the mettle of individual and team competitors.
Shannon MacPherson of Somers Point, John Marshall of Levittown, Pa., Dave Hartzell of Ocean City and Jill Kates of Cape May Court House were up to the challenge. They came out for “something to do in the winter” and to get “a little excitement in the winter, get out, get a run in.”
MacPherson, a 1996 graduate of Ocean City High School, said she does not train for the event specifically but instead stays in shape all year through running and practicing at Stone Harbor Yoga.
“It was a lot of fun. It was good to get outside and get some exercise in, break up the running with some obstacles. It’s a good extra challenge, fun to do with friends,” she said, noting she participates in many of the running events offered in the city.
“It was challenging but really fun,” Kates added.
The adult event featured a 2.5-mile course with 10 obstacles such as sand mounds, cargo nets and rope climbs.
In addition to the adult course, the event included an obstacle course for children inside the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center and team challenges such as a fire truck pull, tire flip and rescue dummy relay.
The non-competitive course for children featured a rock wall, hazard walls, cargo net, agility poles, teeter plank, monkey bars, floating steps, tire run and a noodle tower. Kids also got their chance to test their strength in their own fire truck pull.
“Our numbers are up over last year. It’s good to see a lot of kids and families this year as well,” Kelchner said. “We kind of look at this to be our staple event for Presidents Day weekend. We are very fortunate that we have a fantastic race events series here, a great race director (Lisa Rumer) and we are up for the challenge.”
Team challenges featured groups of four from local businesses, organizations, churches and other groups competing in a fire truck pull, dummy rescue and tire-flip relay.
The Upper Township Beach Patrol team of Michael Parsons, Will Schlucter, Gavin Liepe and Rob Edwards set off to defend its title.
Parsons said they were hoping to “repeat and maybe get an even better score than last year.”
Parsons said they start offseason workouts this time of year, noting the event is another way to train.
“We row, we paddle, run, swim. We continue to do that throughout the offseason to be ready for the summertime,” he said. “It’s really fun so we look forward to it.”
Kelchner said he thinks fitness is a big part of coastal living, noting that promoting health in the community is important to the city and the administration.
“We have taken some things that work at other events and merged them into this kind of unique and cool Presidents Day event,” he said. “We have such a great network of volunteers, vendors and people that contribute to bring race events together. We were happy to add this to the race events portfolio.”
Kelchner also said that while the event draws people to the city for just one day, it exposes them to everything America’s Greatest Family Resort has to offer.
“This type of event also showcases the beach, boardwalk, civic center, the football stadium here,” he said.
At the same time, the sixth annual Ocean City Nature & the Environment Family Fun Day was held in the cafeteria at Ocean City High School.
The free event provided an opportunity to get the kids out of the house to do something educational, interactive and have loads of fun on Presidents Day weekend.
The program included a wide range of nature- and environmental-focused, hands-on experiences for the whole family. Last year’s event drew more than 850 participants.
Activities included small zoo animal interaction, marine life interaction, recycling arts and crafts, nature and environmental take-aways, a food drive and presentations on pollinating insects, pollinator garden, the Jersey tomato and other topics.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
