Organizers of a new Langford event hope participants wonB次元官网网址檛 be a stick-in-the-mud, but come out for a good, old, dirty time.

The Mudd, Sweat and Tears five kilometre extreme obstacle course will be in Langford on Saturday, Nov. 2 and will bring with it challenges for participants to overcome.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a really good, fun, muddy, varied terrain course,B次元官网网址� said company owner John Reed. B次元官网网址淲e have some very cool new obstacles planned that weB次元官网网址檙e introducing.B次元官网网址�

The course will incorporate parts of Western Speedway and the Westshore Motocross track, along with some of the surrounding single track trails.

This is the first year for Mudd, Sweat and Tears Canada Inc., which has so far held three races across B.C., in Kelowna, Fernie and Mt. Washington. There are two more races to go, including the one in Langford and one in Niagara, Ontario.

Increasing interest in alternative, bootcamp style races, and a boom in sports tourism, prompted Reed to start the company. The popularity of events such as the Tough Mudder and Spartan races, both with B.C. dates, showed Reed the people were looking for something challenging and something different.

B次元官网网址淎t the time there werenB次元官网网址檛 a lot of Canadian companies offering the same thing, so we thought it was good opportunity,B次元官网网址� Reed said. B次元官网网址淭he growth trend in obstacle course racing is fairly substantial and has been over the last four years.B次元官网网址�

WestShore Chamber of Commerce CEO Dan Spinner agrees sports tourism is a growing industry and believes thereB次元官网网址檚 no better place for it to grown than the West Shore. With Rugby Canada located in Langford, a new YMCA facility on the way and numerous other sporting events in the area B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 already strong and getting stronger,B次元官网网址� Spinner said.

B次元官网网址淭hey spend money, and that helps jobs, and it also helps build the reputation of the community. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people that havenB次元官网网址檛 been out to the West Shore in a long time and if they come out to a sporting event ... then they get to see whatB次元官网网址檚 happening out here.B次元官网网址�

In contrast to places such as Saanich or Victoria, Spinner said there is substantial potential for growth for sports facilities and events on the West Shore, where there is available land and lots of support.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e talking serious investment dollars,B次元官网网址� Spinner said. B次元官网网址淏y the time you add in golf, field sports, hiking, biking, trails, itB次元官网网址檚 a pretty good scene and itB次元官网网址檚 only going to get better.B次元官网网址�

Reed said heB次元官网网址檚 starting to see some participants following the season and people coming in from out of town to take part in events, as the companyB次元官网网址檚 name becomes more recognizable. For the Langford event people who did the Mt. Washington event have signed up, along with racers from up Island and the Lower Mainland, creating benefits for the local economy as well.

The company aims for the running and crossfit participants demographic, looking for a 60/40 split between women and men and appealing mostly to the 25 to 49 year old age range.

The company has a good-sized collection of obstacles and is adding new ones all the time. They work with an engineering company which designs the obstacles, which they then have built.

Obstacles include ramps, climbing walls, scaffolding with climbing towers and others. The new obstacles set to be premiered in Langford are top secret, Reed said.

B次元官网网址淲e really wanted to be the first obstacle course race in the market for Vancouver Island, and we were and are,B次元官网网址� Reed said.