Your committee did an awesome job at Volkslauf yet again! I like the additional walls, especially the one out by the road that put me on my rear. I hit it at a full run expecting to grab the top, but I hadn't predicted its width. That miscalculation left me without a handhold and I quickly slid back off and down onto my back with a satisfying thud. Many of the mudpits had the distinctive slippery feel of bauxite… a nice touch. I had so missed the slimy feel of the mud you had at the original course the first two years offered - an added bonus from waterproofing the soil. I also like the added depth of Happy Valley - - deeper yet is better yet! Of course the great finishing touch of R. Lee Ermey could not have been better. I could really feel the energy of the group after his tirade at the start.

This marked a milestone event for my family. My 8th, Kari's 4th, Harrison's 3rd, and Peter's 1st mud run. I have my entire family muddy and slimy on a beautiful Saturday morning. What could be better? Of course, that makes for quite a pile of laundry. As soon as the boys are old enough I see team Wykoff making an appearance.

Thank you for a great event and thank you for keeping God, Family and Country central to the event.

Jonathan Wykoff

Just a word of thanks to the Marine Reserves who work diligently to put on the most fun anyone can have in the mud. I look forward to the Voulkslauf each year as it gives me to opportunity to train with family and friends and run in a race that challenges you physically and mentally. Even more important is the amount of fun had by all and the Toy for Tots program it supports. For those of you on the fence about running it is time to get motivated and get running!

Ryan Wegis

    Any weakling can shuffle their way through a measly little 6 mile race… all they have to do is stand up and move forward. The Volkslauf is six miles on steroids. It’s not just about legs and lungs, it’s a whole body / mind race and there’s a strategy for each of the obstacles. All of the time spent in the weight room finally pays off.

    Before anyone starts whining about their age, shin splints, weak ankles, or bad knees, I am going to drag a 45 year old, 260 pound, unattractive body over the course for the fourth time. Am I crazy? Maybe a little bit, but every time I have finished this race I really felt as if I had accomplished something. I’m always looking forward to next year. The first time I ran the Volkslauf I was terrified of crawling through the pipes, but, by the time I finally got in one, it was so quiet and peaceful inside I didn’t want to come out. I will never fear a regular 10K race again.

    In addition to running the race, the helicopters, planes, military equipment, and Kids Mud Run make it fun for everyone. If your family or friends come to watch they will not be bored and have them take lots of pictures because you will have lots of stories about the obstacles. Mud, Water, Fear, and Humiliation… what more could you ask for? Team up with your buddies after the race and share your misery over a tube of disinfectant.

    I appreciate the Golden Empire Detachment of the Marine Corps League and their support of the Toys for Tots Program for putting on the most exciting race in Kern County for another year. See you there!

Kevin Peaker.

    'I ran Volkslauf in 2003 for fun and the experience. The experience was so outstanding that I’m signed up without hesitation for 2004. You don’t need to be super fit to complete the run. Besides, the fitness freaks run first and therefore stay out of the way. I ran as an individual allowing me to run at my own pace which worked out well. Don’t be concerned about running alone. Within a few minutes of the start, you find yourself running with individuals in the same boat as you. There were people giving encouragement the whole way around. You may feel some pain the day after, but good memories of the run and will last forever. Do it !’

Chris Hooper

    Over the past three years I have participated in the Volkslauf Mud Run on two occasions. Both competitions were eye opening experiences. The Volkslauf is a great gauge of physical and mental toughness. I love the team building aspect and the motivation that I get to perform better each year. Last year my 4 and 6 year old participated in the Youth Volkslauf and had a blast. The sense of achievement and knowing that you are helping to contribute to a charitable organization make for a rewarding experience. Good clean fun - in the mud and a bunch of men in spandex - sign me up.

Ahmed Baameur

   Determination to be strong and succeed through any obstacle which lies in the way of the final destination. This will be the first year I have attempted the ultimate challenge. Last year after four months of vigorous training, running, endurance and increased upper body strength, I tore a thigh muscle one month before the Volkslauf. This year after having four surgeries in the last eight months I have the will and determination to complete my personal ultimate challenge, the Volkslauf.

   I have visited the course and observed the tedious obstacles including the tall walls, deep mud, and 6.2 miles of various complicated tasks, tasks which men and women in the Marines conquer on a daily basis. Training of the body and mind for the most strength and endurance are a part of daily life. The Volkslauf will be more fun than imaginable and the success of completing such a challenge is immeasurable.

Melissa Routh

    In December 2001, I injured my knee and had to stay off of my feet for several months. This injury caused me to gain weight, at my heaviest, I was 5'5'' and nearly 200lbs. I had been heavy all my life and had finally made the decision in March of 2002 I was going to lose the extra weight. I joined Weight Watchers which encourages a balanced diet and exercise in order to maintain a healthy body weight. By November of 2002, I had lost 60 lbs. In January of 2003, I took up running as a way to maintain my weight.

    I began running 5K and 10K races and by October 2003 I was ready to run Volkslauf. I had incorporated weight training into my running so I would have the upper body strength to complete the obstacle coarse portion of the race. I am proud to say I was able to complete the course in 1 hr and 13 minutes! This year I ran the San Diego Marathon, my first one, in 4 hours and 28 minutes. I am so excited to compete in this years Volkslauf, my goal is to complete the course in under one hour. I have been able to maintain my weight for over a year and I credit it to a healthy diet and physical activity. There is no magic pill or drug to lose weight, you must change your lifestyle and incorporate physical activity into your life every day!

    Events such as Volkslauf give me incentives to keep up with the physical actives and give me a challenge to complete!

Tabitha Stidham

I've been running the Volkslauf course for a couple years now, and it’s really nothing to be afraid of. If you can run 6 miles on level ground, you really should try this. Volkslauf is a 6 mile run with a couple of "military like" obstacles on the course. You will get wet, you will get dirty, and if you’re out of shape, you will get exhausted. But other than that, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s for a good cause. At 38, I'm not the oldest person on the course. But at almost 2 hours, I do finish near the end of the crowd. Last year, a 57 year old man whizzed past me near the 2 mile mark. And the year before that a lady passed me, actually carrying her child who got too tired to run.

Walt Perkins

   I've participated in the Volkslauf several times since it moved to its present location. Each year brings a few new obstacles to the event, but we can always count on the constants: a challenging course, great camaraderie, bumps, bruises, scrapes, tired muscles, a few beers at the end and a whole lot of personal satisfaction. The Marine Volkslauf Mud Run is in a class by itself, and every year Glenn Pruett and Company put together one of the most well organized races in California. Hundreds of people in various team attire, and numerous stalwart souls who run the course solo, come together to take on the most challenging cross-country obstacle course in Kern County. Well wishers and onlookers are also in great number to witness the event near the Sheriff's facility on Lerdo Highway.

   The best part of Volkslauf for me was participating as a team. Having placed in the mixed team category (1st, 2nd and 3rd place in various years), gave added satisfaction. Helping each other through the many obstacles, giving and receiving encouragement from fellow participants as well as from the crowd are the reasons I keep coming back. Flesh wounds heal. Soreness fades. But you never lose that satisfied feeling that maybe you too could have been G.I. Jane. Hoo aah!

Suzan Cox

    I found the Volkslauf "Mud Run" to be an absolutely unique experience which demanded effort unlike any other standard six-mile race. Given its many obstacles which require upper body involvement, this event is a challenge in the truest sense.

    A few of the fleetest may perceive it as a race but the rest of us view it as a test of the will, a time to step up and overcome, a time to prevail.  And in the course of the tribulation, we see other participants not as the competition but as our brethren. This event fosters teamwork: we don't  shove others aside in a mad dash for the finish, we shove them up and over the obstacles that defy us. Whether we run as individuals or as part of a team, we find ourselves helping or being helped...and feeling a lot better for both. And at the end, after being hosed off (literally), we show off our scrapes and relive the experience while feasting with new-found friends. Then the excitement starts all over again as we watch the kids take their turn on the Junior course...and we are so proud. See you there, soldier.

Shaun Romans