Sept 15 | Tailgating Atmosphere at Muddy ACCE Race

If you head out to enjoy a football event this fall, you will likely see game-goers tailgating the event before the anticipated kickoff. The Muddy ACCE Race event has a friendly tailgating energy to it before, during, and after the race for participants and spectators! Plus free parking!

Held along the banks of the New River Water Trail in Giles County, this mud filled event will delight, challenge, and test our runners to the limits. The race is open to individuals and teams and comprised of the Main Course with over 48 obstacles with differing levels of difficulty, so runners can choose their limits as they run. The first heats of the day, between 8:30 and 9:30 AM are for the hardcore runners wanting to test themselves and for fun competition between first responders and firefighters. After 10 AM, teams, families, and individuals can run or walk the course and be as competitive as they wish. A Youth Mud Pit is also available for the youngsters from 10 AM until 2 PM. If running the race isn’t for some, spectating the race is always an option for joining in on the mud fun.

The Warp Wall is one of the first obstacles to overcome at the MAR, it then leads directly into the freezing Ice Bath! Join us on Sept 16th along the New River for the 2nd annual Muddy ACCE Race.

Before the race, runners can meet up with their team members to prepare for the race. Once together, they can go over strategies to complete the course, or they can get to know their competition a little before they all set off to begin the course. Hanging out in the Vendor Village will give you something to do and enjoy throughout the day. The designated tailgating parking area will be in the line of sight of the first stretch of obstacles and mud pits of the course. If wishing to park in the tailgating area, tell the parking attendants when you arrive. All parking is free but we are encouraging camaraderie in the specially designated tailgating area.

During the race, the spectators can cheer on their favorite runners from the sidelines! Once the runners are out of view, spectators are invited to continue watching the muddy mayhem in the Vendor Village via Facebook Live streams. Food is always a central component of a tailgate, and at the Muddy ACCE Race food is available for spectators to enjoy while they root for the runner of their choice. New to the 2018 event, spectators can enjoy a hayride through the entire course! $5 per person, or a family pack of 5 for $20. Find the hayride ticket area and pickup near the Vendor Village.

After the race, runners can then grab their much deserved bite to eat. Runners and spectators can come together to celebrate a job well done for helping raise funds for the Access to Community College Education (ACCE) Program.

The ACCE Program is a Giles County and New River Community College Partnership that makes college available to graduates from Giles County by covering the cost of tuition for two years at New River Community College. ACCE supports as many students as possible based on student needs and funds available for the program. The Muddy ACCE Race event is a premier fundraiser for the ACCE Program.

Overall, the race promotes a friendly competition among runners and spectators rooting for their favorite team or runner. Come early and hang out all day. We’ll see you at the Muddy Mayhem on September 15, 2018 in Giles County, Virginia along the New River Water Trail.

Follow along with the fun on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM

#2018MAR or #MuddyACCERace

Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia approximately 40 minutes south of Roanoke and just west of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. With easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or find us online at gilescounty.org or by calling 540-921-2079.

For interviews or onsite visits, please contact Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director. We can arrange and assist with any media needs leading up to the September 16 event.

Registration is open for the 2018 Muddy ACCE Race

Giles County, VA- Registration is open for the 2018 Muddy ACCE Race to be held on September 15, 2018 at the Glen Lyn Town Park. The third annual Muddy ACCE Race kicks off at 8:30am on the third Saturday of September along the New River in Glen Lyn. The Muddy ACCE Race is a 5K, obstacle mud run course race designed to drag you out of your comfort zone by testing your physical strength, stamina, and mental grit. It’s not about how fast you can cross the finish line, but if you can handle the mayhem. A challenge that emphasizes teamwork, camaraderie, and accomplishing something. For the kiddos we also have the Children’s Mud Pit. Along the banks of the New River in Southwest Virginia, this race has a rope swing out onto open water and other challenges…think you can handle it? This year, there will be 50 obstacles!

The Muddy ACCE Race has been developed to support the Giles County Access to Community College Education efforts. Giles County is the first locality in the New River Valley to participate in the “Access to Community College Education” initiative. ACCE is a public/private partnership that makes college available tuition-free to resident graduates from Giles County by covering the cost of tuition for two years at New River Community College. ACCE supports as many students as possible based on student need and funds available for the program. With your support, students will graduate from NRCC prepared to join the workforce or transfer to a four-year university without college debt. The successful program has garnered national attention for Giles County and has allowed over 150 students to further their education at New River Community College.

The MAR will be an event not to miss. Participants can sign up to complete the event as individuals or teams. There are also competitive time slots where runners compete for medals and all the glory! Later time slots are perfect for those running for the challenge or fun of it. The obstacles include the Warped Wall, Tarzan’s Trapeze, the Human Ladder, New River Shuffle, and the rope swing! New this year, participants can also look forward to the Copperhead Climb, Feel the Burn, and Stock Treatment. Every registered participant will receive an event t-shirt to prove you attempted the challenge, along with a water bottle and commemorative sticker. Spectators are welcomed to enjoy the village of vendors, food, and entertainment. Visit MuddyACCERace.com for registration, more information about the course, update course information and pictures, and to learn more about the ACCE program. Can you rise to the call and handle this muddy mayhem? Follow along on Facebook and Instagram @MuddyACCERace.

Jennifer and friend trudge through one of many mud pits at the 2016 event.

***

For more information about planning your visit to Giles County or about activities and events, please visit www.gilescounty.org or contact us at tourism@gilescounty.org. For media interviews or visit, we look forward to working with you. Please contact Cora with requests.