By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorA Sunday morning shower made the first annual “Summer Splash” at The Battlegrounds extra challenging and muddy.Despite the extra weight on the shoes, Evan Perperis had little difficulty in completing the 5K mud run obstacle course and finishing in first place.Perperis, a 32-year-old from Platte, Mo., was well prepared for the 30-plus military-themed obstacles he cleared on his way to the finish line in under an hour of time.“You have to complete all of the obstacles, but the majority of your time is still spent running,” Perperis said. “My run training will consist of between 30 to 70 miles a week. Some of the obstacles, like the I-beam in “The Gauntlet”, required great grip strength and I lift two to four times a week. That helps me be prepared for both sides of the race.”For the past several years, Perperis has competed in 10 or more similar runs to the event the Mud Run Guide (top online website for mud runs) put on this past weekend. Through training and a strict diet, he has excelled in the extreme sport.Through several first-place finishes, he has become a well-known name in the sport and also appeared on the first mud run reality TV show, “OCR Warrior”, which made its debut last year.“I was never particularly strong or fast growing up, so I would flip flop between sports,” Perperis said. “I started to spend months training for marathons and then I’d switch it up and do power lifting. I feel as if carrying a little bit more muscle than a straight runner helps me out a lot on the obstacles and to push myself ahead in the races I compete in.”On Oct. 17-18, Perperis will compete in the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Ohio as he and the top 25 men and women finishers at The Battlegrounds qualified for the race.After the three waves of races were concluded, he along with nearly 500 participants who signed up for “Summer Splash” enjoyed food, prize giveaways and a challenge at the toughest part of the obstacle course, The Gauntlet.Perperis finished second in the challenge with a time of 4:39. To make his day even more enjoyable, he also won a free pair of Icebug shoes, which are some of the most popular shoes to wear during obstacle races.“This day turned out way better than I was planning on,” he said. “I won a free pair of really nice shoes, won the race and got to hang out with my wife and baby. It was surprising how many people I know at races like these because we compete in a lot of the same races around the state.”Brett Stewart, co-founder of Mud Run Guide and executive producer of “OCR Warrior”, enjoyed hosting the first “Summer Splash” event.“The Battlegrounds has been a customer of ours for the last two years,” Stewart said. “I fell in love with this place this year when I came out to watch another race. This place is a gem. It’s worth it for everybody to come out and see and compete in. It’s great for families and competitors looking for a tough challenge.”It came as no suprise to Stewart to see one of his close friends and someone he sponsors through “OCR Warrior” come out on top yet again.“He’s been doing great on the scene,” Stewart said, who will be shooting five episodes next Saturday in Flagstaff, Ariz. for “OCR Warrior”. “He’s really dedicated to this sport and is well-known for having success in these races. It was fun to see him and his family out here along with all the other families. It was a successful event all-around.”“Summer Splash” will look to be even bigger next year after a first-year hit at The Battlegrounds, which is located next to Cedar Lakes Winery.“This was a great experience,” Perperis said. “Obstacle racing is a sport that everyone can enjoy and today had the best of both worlds. We had a competitive race and then an open wave to run with your family and friends. Everyone had a great time out here.”
Evan Perperis finished first place in the mud run at The Battlegrounds on July 19. He will compete in the Obstacle Run World Championship in Ohio on Oct. 17-18.
Patrick MacCoon photo.
