Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Another morning before the sun comes up. I head out the door and travel to the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia for the 2012 Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course. The full day of races started at 8:30 with a 10k challenge course followed by two 5k races and two children’s runs. The course included mud pits, rope climbs, high and low wall climbs, cargo nets, monkey bars, inflatables and water crossings. Over 3,000 people from all over Georgia and different parts of the nation participated in the race with some of the proceeds going to benefit Operation Gratitude. Atlanta was the ninth stop of the 10-round tour for the 2012 season. The event was presented by Subaru. I photographed the race for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Gina Schuster (left) registers with Austin Schultheir for the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

The sun starts to rise over the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Laura Herrell fills out registration material for the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Chloe Weathersby registers for the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Paige Lifsey attaches her bib number to her shirt as the sun rises over the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers before the start of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

John Locker puts on his bib number for the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course as the sun starts to rise at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Christy Vernon helps her daughter Story with her bib number before the start of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Riley Scruggs launches a paint ball from a slingshot during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Dog tags lay in rows to be handed out to racers as they cross the finish line during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Mituki Omori runs in a giant hamster wheel before the start of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Nick Ferrara leads the pre-race meeting for the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Michelle Coe (right) hugs Chris Finney before the start of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Cooper Cross (2358) races from the starting line of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Dena Astin (2136) waits for her group to start the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Bart Pruett starts the 10k race during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Anna Truong (2379) and Jim Jendzurski (1821) lead a group of races through the river section of the course during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Ryan White runs towards the final set of obstacles during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Chris Shoup climbs one of the wall obstacles during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Chris Shoup reaches the top of one of the wall obstacles during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Mituki Omori uses a rope to pull himself over a wall during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Ryan White crawls through the final mud pit during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Adam Bazydlo runs out of the final mud pit during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Cindy Hypes climbs a rope ladder during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Aaron Price crawls through one of the mud pits during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Lee Gray (2202) makes his way through the river portion of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Meredith McGorrian (2125) and Mark Jacobson run towards the final set of obstacles during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Shenoa Creer climbs a wall obstacle during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Mike Watkins uses a rope to climb one of the last obstacles during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Eric Vicknair crawls through the last mud pit during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Adrian Penka carries his watch in his mouth as he comes out of the last mud pit during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Amy Wyrzykowski uses a rope to pull herself over a wall during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Holly Welch uses a rope to climb up a wall obstacle during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Felix Chu crawls through the final mud pit during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

James Taylor picks himself out of the mud to head to the finish line of the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Sherrie Sessa (2000) and Leah Cleary (1685) raise their hands as they cross the finish line during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Jennifer Haley (right) hugs her husband Bill after they cross the finish line during the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

 

Niki Lemley (right) hoses off Paul Kelley (1826) and Jeffrey Roberts (2130) after they complete the Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run and Obstacle Course at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers on Sunday, October 14, 2012.