20 runners go for glory at squirrel obstacle course

If there was one lesson, and one lesson only, to be learned at Saturday’s Montana Squirrel Obstacle Course run, it was: Never, ever, never underestimate the intimidating powers of a hula hoop.

Oh, and to be in good shape helps too.

Nearly 20 people lined up early at Wadsworth Park for the Race Montana event, a 5K run peppered with obstacles and other feats of skill.

Among the 28 obstacles were a cinder-block carry, low crawl, tire run, bale jump – and mastering a hula hoop.

“Nothing is going to be easy today,” Race Montana’s Kristina Smith told participants. “We’re going to make it difficult for you.”

“What if you can’t hula hoop?” one person shouted from the crowd, bringing chuckles.

“Well, then you will be there a long time,” Smith shot back.

Tony Rhoades of Great Falls participated with his 9-year-old son, Marcus.

“We just enjoy doing the races,” he said mentioning they did one together the week before and “we froze our tails off.”

Funds raised from the event will go for trail maintenance, officials said.

Race Montana President Ron Ray said the group has been doing the events for about three years. He said participation is slowly building.

“It’s supposed to be a competitive event, but it’s also fun,” he said. “Anyone can do it, you don’t have to be a Spartan elite or a beast.”

Ray said the group hosts 14 other events during the year in the Great Falls region such as a triathlon, a half marathon and the Burn the Bird run on Thanksgiving Day.

According to its website, www.racemt.com, Race Montana is a nonprofit organization that has events in northcentral Montana and surrounding areas. The events are organized by local “race directors, sponsors and enthusiasts.” It’s not only running events as the slogan atop its website reads: “We’ve got the runs, and so much more.”

Winners on Saturday would receive a trophy and $25 gift certificate, Smith said. Other prizes were donated.

Dan Hodson was the first across the finish line with a time of 29:19.

“It was awesome,” said Hodson, who leads a Grrranimals run at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “It was so much fun and challenging.”

So what was the toughest obstacle?

“The hula hoop,” he said, adding he couldn’t get it to go around more than twice without it falling.

“I’m not coordinated enough.”

Doreen Caquelin of Stanford was the first female across the finish line with a time of 35:34.

“It was fun,” she said, but said her toughest challenge was something other than the hula hoop.

“I don’t like to do burpees,” she said.

A handful of volunteers and supporters cheered on the participants.

Carol Berg read about the event in the newspaper and decided to help. She said she would do it again.

“This was kind of fun,” she said, taking a pause: “to watch.”