Minooka Park and Cornerstone Fitness and Wellness will be hosting a Minooka Mudder 5K race March 16 at 8 a.m. at Minooka Park in Jemison.

Minooka Park manager Gerald Arrington said he is excited about the race and is currently constructing some of the man-made obstacles to go along the 18-course race.

“This is going to be a lot of fun for those participating in the race as well as those who might want to just come watch,” Arrington said. “We are going to have a lot of different obstacles set up throughout the course that will be entertaining to watch.”

Arrington said the race will have obstacles including a mud pit and a wall that racers will have to climb over as well as a lake that will serve as a barrier to cross over.

Arrington said all of the obstacles are optional when racing so anyone not interested in doing all of them will still be able to finish the race.

“The obstacles are mainly just so the racers can have fun,” Arrington said. “If someone doesn’t necessarily want to climb the wall in order to continue racing they won’t have to.”

Arrington said Sheriff Kevin Davis has provided different material for some of the obstacles that he acquired from army surplus including commercial size rafts that will be located in water for racers to use as they try to cross over the water.

Although many of the obstacles will be a surprise when racers begin racing, Arrington said every racer should know the final obstacle will ensure everyone gets muddy before crossing the finish line.

“You should be prepared to get wet and dirty while participating in this race,” Arrington said.

Cornerstone Fitness and Wellness co-owner Barry Baker said mud runs were originally created when a student at Harvard University got bored participating in the traditional marathon races so he decided to create a race with more obstacles and created a mud run.

“Every mud run is a little different, but it is designed to add a different element to a normal 5K race,” Baker said. “It resembles a cross country race in some ways.”

Baker said he is excited to have the race at Minooka Park with the beautiful scenery as a backdrop for the race.

“We are fortunate to have Minooka Park’s property that is beautiful and perfect for a race of this nature,” Baker said. “Hopefully it will be a way for people to come out and see the park and enjoy the pretty area while participating in a race that is going to be a lot of fun.”

Baker encourages anyone choosing to run in the race to start training muscles that support the ankle and runs that support different types of terrain including outside runs with large hills.

“I would also try to do a lot of lunges and anything that trains your calves,” Baker said. “This is an all-terrain type of race that all fitness levels can participate in. It isn’t necessarily about the finish but trying to have fun.”

Arrington said individuals can participate for $50 or teams of three or more can race for $35 each.