No 'obstacle' formed ... although that wall is pretty high
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 5, 2017 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Lance Wise, left, and Dylan Whitley take a practice run at the Lion's Run obstacle course at Unity Baptist Church.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Lance Wise, left, and Dylan Whitley take a practice run at the Lion's Run obstacle course at Unity Baptist Church.
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Lance Wise, left, and Dylan Whitley take a practice run at the Lion's Run obstacle course at Unity Baptist Church.
MOUNT OLIVE -- There is still time to register for Unity Baptist Church's Lion's Run Obstacle Race fundraiser to benefit All the King's Children Foundation.
The lot behind the church, located on N.C. 55 East at Indian Springs Road, is being transformed into three separate courses -- one for children ages 12 and younger, and intermediate and a more advanced ones for adults.
During the Cubs Run for ages 12 and younger, parents can go on the course and help their children.
The cost is $20 per adult and $10 per child.
College and high school students who show a school ID will receive $5 off the entrance fee.
The main event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9.
It is not a timed race, and participants can run the course as many times as they want to.
A team competition will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7.
It will be limited to the first 16 teams to register.
Six teams have signed up so far, and registrations will be accepted until 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7.
Others have expressed an interest, but not yet registered, said the Rev. Ronnie Wise, church pastor. Eight teams are needed, he said.
To register, call Wise at 919-429-0784.
Competition will be a relay on the difficult course, and each member will do five obstacles then tag the next team member.
There will be time beforehand to test the course, and each team will do multiple runs.
Trophies will be awarded.
The course is being built by church member Steve Kennedy of Steve Kennedy Construction Co.
The adult course will be a two part-course with more than 30 obstacles shaped like a horseshoe inside a horseshoe.
One will be an intermediate-level course and then a more advanced one to challenge all levels, said church member Hannah Huckaby, who came up with the idea for the event.
The course will include an inverted wall, balance beams, slanted wall, hurdles, lows crawl, apex wall and jump-through wall.
There is no mud pit.
"It is a great first obstacle course for someone who has never done one before," she said. "We have had a lot of good response from the community and university (of Mount Olive)."
Huckaby's Sunday school class was wondering what it could do to get that age group's attention and came up with the obstacle course race, she said.
Class members talked with Wise, and others at the church who could ensure the idea was brought to fruition.
The thought also was what could be done so that the participants could also give back to the community, Huckaby said.
From that sprung the idea of all of the proceeds benefiting the nonprofit All the King's Children, she said.
Huckaby said the hope is to make it an annual event and that she is excited to see how the church can do more in the community.
Both the Thursday and Saturday events are free for spectators. There will be free parking. Concessions will be available.
People can pre-register online at www.unitylionrun.com and on Facebook at UBCLionsRun.