COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Marines from Company D, 8th Tanks hosted the 9th Annual Ultimate Challenge Mud run, here, May 11. This year's event was the biggest ever and a tremendous success with over 200 four-person teams competing. The course was a grueling 4.2 miles long over "terrain" that includes 32 obstacles. Any obstacle you can imagine was built into the course: tank ditches, HUGE mud pits, berms, rope bridges, cargo nets, rope swings, cliffs and more. The final obstacle was a stretcher carry in which three members of the team carried the fourth "injured" comrade the last 100 meters to the finish line. For two weeks prior to the race, the Inspector-Instructor staff worked around the clock putting the finishing touches on the course, which included pumping 20,000 gallons of water each day onto the course to insure a true Marine Corps experience. The fastest teams finished in approximately 38-40 minutes and the slowest in about 90 minutes. The race was open to anyone who felt up to the challenge. Competitive categories included: military, police/fireman, corporate, ROTC, JROTC, and open. For those who were less than enthusiastic about getting dirty and "building their body the Marine Corps way," there were also certified 5K and 10K road races. Participants came from as far north as Detroit and as far south as Miami and all truly loved the experience. The local Marine Corps Coordinating Council, with members from Company D, the local recruiting station, the Marine Corps League, and the Montford Point Marines, began planning the event in early January. Leading the way were I-I 1st Sgt. Chris Blumenberg, who had overall coordination of the course design and retired Maj. John Hopkins, who solicited sponsors, among other things. The Marines of Company D provided the manpower to manage the race and ensure a smooth event for the community. Next year, the 10th Annual promises to be an even bigger and better event! Semper Fit!