The Holiday Valley Mudslide is not a Spartan Race. And that’s by design.
To those of you reading that have completed a Spartan Race, bravo. It takes a new level of mental fortitude to accomplish a race like that — one that subjects you to a number of difficult obstacles while also running 8 miles.
With every event they run, Holiday Valley has one priority in mind: having fun. You don’t see many frowning faces at the Annual Beer & Wine Festival, nor down-in-the-dumps attitudes at SnowBar. The Mudslide isn’t any different.
On Saturday, June 15, the Mudslide returns. Now in its 8th year, it’s become a staple on the HV event calendar. Runners can choose between a 3.5 or 5.4-mile course, which both start at Spruce Lake before finishing at Yodeler Lodge. Runners take the Spruce Chairlift to the top, where waves go off every 30 minutes.
The courses are a little different — the 3.5 has 11 obstacles, the 5.4 with 14 — and the 5.4 has a lot more uphill sections. Over the past few years, obstacles have changed to keep it fresh, but runners can expect one thing: Getting super muddy.
Spinning tubes made their debut last year at the top of Tannenbaum (the photos are hilarious), as did the rope climb up the race hut on Foxfire. There are a few new obstacles ready to be unveiled this year, including a very special one (it’s a surprise).
Both courses take you through the heart of the resort, where you’ll see sections you wouldn’t if you only come during the winter months. Last year, when the temperature hit close to 90º, runners welcomed the sight of HV’s HKD snowmaking guns blasting cold water.
Runners finish at the bottom of the Yodeler ski slope, where they’re required to slide down into a giant mud puddle. If you’re serious about winning, make sure you sign up for one of the earlier waves — you can do that at signup. A post-race party includes beers, a DJ, awards and the kid’s race.
If you’ve got a young one that wants to run the 3.5 mile course, they can! Holiday Valley allows children 7-years-old and up to run if accompanied by an adult. If they don’t want to run the full course, the kid’s race (set up at the bottom of Yodeler) is a separate event that takes place after the main race.
Holiday Valley will also have a vendor village set up, where The City Garage, Adventure Bound onthefly, EVL Half Marathon, Ellicottville Oasis Spa, Villaggio, Upstate Farms and John Harvard’s Brew House will be set up.
If you’re looking for a mud run to have some fun in, the Mudslide is for you! The resort caps competitors at 1,200, so if you haven’t signed up, get a group of friends together and get on it. The Mudslide goes down Saturday, June 15. For more information and to register, head to www.HolidayValley.com/mudslide.
