Challenging obstacle race

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Women dressed up as brides and farmers and men wearing silly suits were among the many participants in a challenging South Okanagan race on Saturday.

The day marked the fifth annual Freak’n Farmer adventure obstacle course race, presented by Penticton Home Hardware and coordinated by Hoodoo Adventures and Covert Farms.

"We've got about 700 adults and 650 kids participating this year," said Mike Hill with Hoodoo Adventures.   "And I think it's because obstacle races and mud runs are getting more popular every year. People can do it as a team or as a family, you just have to have the right attitude."

The day-long event, featured 5K, 10K and 20K obstacle course races, along with two races geared to children.

Participants ranging in age from 3 to 70 with names like Team Bride, The Suits and The Farmer's Daughters navigated a course filled with 33 obstacles spread all over Covert Farms.

Among the many obstacles were mud alley, the runway,  a reservoir and something called Cactus Hill, making for some very wet and muddy competitors by the race's end.

Solo competitor Jason Embree from Penticton said he started hearing about the event and thought it would be fun to give it a try.

"I get a lot of value out of pushing myself on the different obstacles," he said. "The sense of accomplishment you get from doing an event like this is incomparable."

Stacey Taylor, who travelled with her teammates from Vancouver Island for the event, said they just did Tough Mudder in July and wanted to keep their momentum going.

As for Xelian Louw with The Suits from Penticton, it's simply a good time.

"It's just a place where everybody is out to have some fun," he said.

In addition to the acres of obstacles, there were wine tastings, beer tastings, food trucks and live music.

Spectators were welcome to catch the action with hop-on/hop-off farm transportation available by donation with partial proceeds going to a local charity.