WSU recreation books two April races

Lace up the running shoes and come ready for fun and running in April as the Washington State University Recreation Center (UREC) is putting on two races that are open to the public.

The first race, April 16, and is titled the “Rugged Race.”

The on-road and off-road challenge course will feature obstacles along a three-mile course which will include wall climbs and traverses, tire flips and cinder block and log carries. The race also promises a surprising climb to the finish, according to the online event page. Other obstacles listed as possibilities include a slippery wall, tire drag, hay bale climb, burpees, box jumps and rowing.

This is the first year for the Rugged Race, with it replacing the Campus On The Run 5K that has been done in the past.

Check in for that event will begin at 9:30 a.m. the day of the race in the Student Recreation Center (SRC) lobby, and the heats begin at 10:15 a.m. Heats will be e-mailed to participants two days prior to the race on April 14.

The Rugged Race is open to anyone 12 years or older. Those who are aged 12-17 will have a modified course available, according to the event page.

Early registration is now open for the Rugged Race, and the cost through March 26 is $14 for members of the SRC and $17 for non-members. That cost goes up to $20 for members and $23 for non-members after March 26.

The Second Annual Palouse Throwdown is booked for the next weekend on April 23 at 10 a.m.

Taking place at the Valley Road Playfields in Pullman, the competition will pit same-sex teams of two against other teams.

Only one team member from each team needs to register for both participants on the team, and a UREC account is needed for registration. Anyone can create a UREC account online.

According to the event page, the workouts in the throwdown can be modified or scaled back if a participant feels they cannot perform the exercises. The page states that if a workout is modified, a reduced score will be received for that workout.

Matthew Atwell, event director, said the exact workouts will not be released until the last week of March.

“We kind of keep things secret until about three weeks before so that all participants have the same amount of time to prepare,” he told the Gazette.

Atwell said the events will be Crossfit-style, which basically amounts to “moving heavy equipment long distances in a short amount of time.”

“People can expect barbells, medicine balls, rowing, things like that,” he said.

Atwell said videos of the workouts will be released at the end of March through an upload to YouTube. Those who are registered will receive an email when the videos are available.

Registration can be completed online and costs $60 for members and $65 for nonmembers. The price of registration also includes a t-shirt.

More information about both events and registration is available at urec.wsu.edu.