Marine Forces Special Operations Command

How do you create a world class event to increase awareness and raise support for the injured Marines, Sailors and families of the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East? Simple: Start with equal parts dirt and water. Mix vigorously. Then add 14 obstacles and invite hundreds of people who thrive on challenge.

More than 65 four-person teams, including two teams from Marine Special Operations Advisor Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, participated in the inaugural Marine Mud Run at Belmont Abbey College at Belmont, N.C. Aug. 4.

"Having fun in the mud and raising money for Wounded Warriors: It doesn't get much better than that,"explained Gunnery Sgt. Kent Groves, a team sergeant with MSOAG. "The entire event was a lot of fun and was for a great cause."

The event was open to the public and included military, public safety,

corporate, college, community, and military youth group team categories.

"The community has really pulled together for this event,"said Monty

Monteleone, a retired Marine and Director of Corporate and Foundation

Relations for Belmont Abbey College."We are glad to have MARSOC out here for such a great cause."

Monteleone, who began co-planning the event more than eight months ago, gathered sponsors and participants from the surrounding area to rally

support for the Wounded Warriors.

"We gained a lot of support for the run and had over 70 volunteers to help out with the day's events,"explained Monteleone.

The mud run teams slogged their way through the mud-soaked 3.8 mile obstacle course that included challenges such as a 50-yard duck walk, push-up and jumping jack stations, sand-bag carries, climbing walls and the crowd's favorite, a"big ol' mud pit."

“Some of the obstacles were pretty tough, but I'd have to say the 50-yard duck walk was the hardest,"said Groves.

The final stretch - a 25-yard low crawl - was tough as well.

"Carrying all the extra mud in our pockets and boots weighed us down,"

Groves explained.

Some participants were able to run throughout the course, others had to walk at times, but the participants from each team finished together to show

support for a worthy cause.

"I was very impressed with everyone's performance,"said Lance Cpl. Ryan Harper, a motor transportation operator who was wounded in Ramadi, Iraq, Feb. 16. "It's great to see how many people still care."

Monteleone hopes the show of support for this inaugural Marine Mud Run is just the start."We hope to make this an annual event and make it even

bigger next year,"he said. "We would love for MARSOC to come back next

year."

"I would definitely do that again next year,"said Groves, whose team

finished second in the military category with a time of 44 minutes, 47

seconds."It impressed me to see the community show so much support for our Wounded Warriors."

A team of Marines from the 4th Maintenance Battalion, Marine Corps Reserve Center, Charlotte, N.C., placed first in the military category.