Positive Fitness was positively the best with 19 competitors in total at Saturday’s first-ever Mudtastic Classic at the WACF grounds. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

SYRACUSE — Their mothers were mudders, their fathers were mudders.

It was the inaugural Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s Mudtastic Classic Saturday morning and it was a fantastic success. More than 100 people were in attendance as competitors ran, rolled and crawled the trails near the Levinson-LaBrosse Lakes & Wetlands Education Center.

The events started at 9 a.m. with kids (ages 7-14) running a shortened version of the course and continued through noon. Once the kids were done there was waves of adults then a final few waves made up of both kids and adults. The course had sponsored obstacles which challenged competitors to roll, crawl, hurdle and jump through the muddy trails. The rainy weather may have brought spirits down at other area events, but it only made things better at the Mudtastic.

It was a fun community event that as members of the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department, WACF and Turkey Creek Fire Territory all helping to make sure things ran smoothly, or maybe it was to make sure things ran sloppy?

The fire department hosed off mud-caked competitors upon their finishes and, while there was no winning or losing in the event, awards were handed out to the best outfitted competitors.

Best Youth Outfit was won by Phoebe Powell of Syracuse who went pretty in pink with her attire. Best Adult Outfit was shared by the “Swamp Sisters” Danielle Powell (Kendallville) and Sarah Dock (Columbia City) who sported matching tops and grass hula skirts for their run. Best Team Uniform was awarded to team “Muddy Ears.” The team of Warsaw residents Andy and Dawn Bass and Bill and Jill Donley all donned capes to help them fly through the course.

The event highlighted the nearly three miles of trails that the WACF has on its property, which might just be the area’s best kept secret. In addition to other unique features of the trails, competitors had scenic views of Lake Wawasee during the event.

In total, the Mudtastic Classic was supported by 12 local sponsors and had 94 official competitors ranging in ages from eight to 71.

More photos from Saturday’s down and dirty fun can be viewed and purchased by following this link.