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Swamp Romp 2007
By Louis Tomsic The Swamp Romp was Saturday, February 24, 2007 at Kaneohe Marine Core Station. The weather conditions were ideal this year for this fun, very muddy race. Over 150 teams of 6 runners compete in this event. With over 900 participants, it is the largest relay event held on the island of Oahu. This relay is different then most relays though because your team is only as fast as your weakest link. Teams need at least 5 of their team members in order to cross the finish line with a one minute deduction. It is best to run together to have all 6 of the team members finish but sometimes the mud is so thick it exhausts the strength of even the best runners so you can not be penalized too badly if one of your team mates is having an off day. Each year, the race course is very different and this year was no exception. There was a wooden slide and two high wooden windows that had to be jumped through to test runners upper body strength. Midway through the course, there was a point each runner had to crawl through muddy water under that was nearly like swimming. This year there was crawling through small steel tunnels but now swimming in the ocean for 400 meters like last year. Also missing this year was swimming through the drainage ditch. There was an especially muddy stretch over a real and not simulated swamp that was the most difficult. Boots are strongly encouraged here because suction pressure can be so great on the feet that shoes disappear of a runners feat below the mud. Rocks get in your shoes from running on gravel and then back in the mud but 2 layers of socks can help sooth the pain of rocks that come in your boots midway through the race. This years race was about 5 miles. It may seem longer but it is only because of the challenging terrain. After the race, the team has a photo with the sports photographer. A giant fire engine sprays the crowds of finished runners so they will not be as muddy returning home in their cars. I have run this race the past 3 years and bring a change of cloths to get into after I hose down. Race results get posted quickly and team places are constantly changing because heats of 3 teams start 30 seconds between each other to prevent jam ups in bottle neck areas of this muddy obsticle course. the best advice is to run as fast as you can because you are being times against the course and others who started at different heats.The refreshments included water, power aide, bananas, and oranges waiting for team awards to be given out. This is a race that I highly recommend that you try at least once because of its unique challenge. Arrive at least 1 hour early to the race to get a good parking spot and find your other 5 team mates. Otherwise, there is a big line outside of the main gate at 6:15A. I had a lot of fun this year and was on great team. We missed a team mate who had to go fight in Afghanistan but hopefully he will be back again next year to do this great event with us. Check out www.swampromp.net to see photos from this year. Last Updated: February 24, 2007 |
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