Mud fun: Reserve 'Mudruckers' hit the pits again

by Senior Airman Meredith A. H. Thomas
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.  -- Several reservists with the 315th Airlift Wing here took a break from unit training assembly activities March 8, to run, splash and crawl through the mud on the Boone Hall Farms Rugged Maniac 5K course here.

This was a repeat appearance for the "Mudruckers," who completed their first obstacle-style mud challenge, the Dirty Girl Mud Run, in September.

Their first race was a women's-only event, but the Rugged Maniac team saw the addition of a couple men and some mud run first-timers.

Master Sgt. Larry Graybill, logistics plans NCO in charge with the 315th Logistics Readiness Squadron here, donned "Mudruckers" pink to join the team for their first co-ed run. This was Graybill's inaugural mud challenge and, despite feeling sore the next day, he is excited for the next one.

"I learned a lot this time around," he said. "I think I will have to have a dedicated set of clothes and shoes for running these things in the future. You had to scrub and scrub to get that mud off!"

The 9-person team persevered through shoe-claiming mud bogs, tire barriers, cargo net climbs, and frigid water obstacles. The course culminated with a slide into a dirty mud bath and a low-crawl under barbed wire through one last, extra-soupy mud pit.

Senior Master Sgt. Karla Rose, 315th Force Support Squadron superintendent here and organizer of the "Mudruckers" team, said she saw some dedicated participants on the course.

"We saw a girl lose both of her shoes on the very first mud pit we went through," she said. "She then lost both of her socks as well and ran the rest of the course barefoot!"

The 315th AW Reserve recruiters helped sponsor the Mount Pleasant run and were also on hand at the event to support the Reserve team. The recruiters braved muddy handshakes and requests for hugs from runners covered head-to-toe in dark muck in order to inform everyone about the mission of the Air Force Reserve and encourage people to enlist.

The event was a huge success for the Reserve "Mudruckers," all of whom crossed the finish line filthy and cold but beaming from ear to ear.

"Just like last time, we helped each other through and we laughed the whole way," said Master Sgt. Barbara Sosebee, 315th Mission Support Group career advisor here.