Hundreds participate in Thomas College’s Dirty Dog Mud Run

WATERVILLE, Maine (WABI) - There was a big turnout and plenty of missing shoes as Thomas College’s Dirty Dog Mud Run comes back right in the thick of Maine’s mud season.

“We started this 10 years ago. The Assistant VP for Student Engagement, it was his idea and he just kind of formed committees and throughout the last 10 years, this is the eighth annual because we had two years without an event because of COVID, and so this year, he unfortunately had surgery. So, I’ve just stepped up a little bit, as well as a lot of people to make the event happen,” said Kerry Smart, one of the event’s organizers.

According to those who ran, it was quite the time.

“Everybody is really supportive. You run by people and they’re like, ‘Hey, good job, good luck’, or you know, they’re just really cheering you on. The volunteers too as well, they’re cheering you on as you go,” said Jenifer Merrill, a participant in the run.

“It’s not your typical Sunday morning, but it gets you out with the huge group of people who are also getting out of bed early and getting muddy and, you know, out in the woods and so it’s really cool just to be out here with all these people and I think one of my favorite parts is like getting through an obstacle at the same time as other people and, you know, going through that together and challenging ourselves,” stated Jeff Tucker, a participant in the run.

While it may seem like the runners are tearing up campus, by participating, they actually help improve it.

What we’ve done in the past with the funds that we receive; we have put Adirondack chairs on campus; we bought fat tire bikes so they can ride on the Sukeforth Family Trails. This year, we’re taking last year’s proceeds and this year’s, and we are constructing and building an outdoor beach volleyball court,” explained Smart.