It’s all about the mud

  • Wolfe claims to like mud and got his wishes at Sunday's race.
    Wolfe claims to like mud and got his wishes at Sunday's race.
  • Dorothy Beebe lugs a handle-less bucket filled with rocks as one of the obstacles in the Spartan Race.
    Dorothy Beebe lugs a handle-less bucket filled with rocks as one of the obstacles in the Spartan Race.
  • Beebe comes off of the cargo net after climbing up the other side.
    Beebe comes off of the cargo net after climbing up the other side.
  • Levi Wolfe attempting to climb a slippery rope to ring the bell at the top
    Levi Wolfe attempting to climb a slippery rope to ring the bell at the top
  • It's a family affair with Fred Harmon II, Dorothy and James Beebe, and 4-year-old Fred Beebe III, all running the Spartan Race
    It's a family affair with Fred Harmon II, Dorothy and James Beebe, and 4-year-old Fred Beebe III, all running the Spartan Race

    By Nila Harris

    For 12-year-old Levi Wolfe, it was all about the mud when he was asked if he wanted to run in the Spartan Race at Perfect North Slopes. “I like mud,” was his comment. On Sunday, June 11, while it was sunny and clear in Pendleton County, Spartan racers experienced downpours and storm delays in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

    Wolfe described the challenges that the mud represented for him and his friend Dorothy Beebe. Both children stated that the rope climbing obstacle was the hardest challenge. Grasping the rope was seemingly impossible when it was covered with mud and water. But the mud pit obstacle proved to be impassible for 11-year-old Dorothy. She talked about how she got stuck, and one of the workers at the race had to pull her out. And to add insult to injury, if you couldn’t do a challenge, the runner had to do either burpees or run a penalty lap. Dorothy and Levi ran the penalty, then continued on.

    Dorothy’s dad James Beebe knows all about “continuing on”. He participated in the adult race with his brother-in-law Fred Harmon II and was injured about 150 yards into the event when he tore a calf muscle. But there was no way the elder Beebe was going to stop in a race he had been training for a year. He kept going and completed the race.

    As the adults planned this race, Harmon’s four-year-old son Fred Harmon III wanted to get involved in the action too. The little one, who was not used to experiencing mud since he lives in Florida, thoroughly enjoyed the muddy run. He was the one instrumental in getting his cousin Dorothy involved. He had hoped to run with his older cousin, but the kids’ races were split into age groups with the younger Harmon running a one-half mile course.

    This is not the first time the adults ran the Spartan. Beebe and Harmon competed in the Spartan Race at Boca Raton, Florida this past April. In fact, they plan on running in Sebring, Florida this December. That will enable them to complete their Tri-fecta medals.

    “The Spartan Trifecta is a badge of honor, earned by pushing your mind, body, and spirit to achieve greatness.” spartanrace.zendesk.com. It is earned by competing in The Beast (21K and 30 obstacles), The Super (10K with 30 obstacles), and The Sprint (5K with 20 obstacles). They ran The Super race this time, doing obstacles including running through waist-high water, winding through downed trees, scaling up and down walls, climbing on rings, monkey bars, and cargo nets, and ending with a fire jump.

    James emphasized that the Spartan is designed to test you and to help you compete against yourself. You must at least try the obstacles, even if it’s carrying an Atlas-type ball, slippery and caked with a ¼” of mud or running up steep hills in the pouring down rain. He and his daughter had trained, running on the hills of their farm, but that did not amply prepare them for the slopes at Perfect North. But they all completed their races and had a good time doing it. Although Dorothy initially said that she was done with the Spartan, she is now thinking ahead to her next race. And hopes her friend Levi will join her again too.