Florence welcomes the Palmetto State O-Run Team Challenge

LYNCHBURG -- Although there is no intentional water or mud during the course of the Palmetto State O-Run, you may get a little dirty. And depending on the weather, you may get a little wet, too.

The Palmetto State O-Run Team Challenge, which will be held March 20 in Lynchburg, is a 4-mile long obstacle course, located on 1,000 acres of wooded trails and uneven terrain, and groups made up of four individuals will need to run, climb, crawl, and lift or flip objects in order to compete for first place in their division and overall.

The course itself is designed by Del Boykin, owner of Competitive Edge of Florence. Boykin solidified his ideas for the "O-Run" when he attended the USMC Mud Run in Columbia, an annual obstacle race hosted by the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation. He was impressed with the turnout, which included 8,000 participants, and liked the idea of offering this area something more challenging than a traditional 5K run.

“We wanted to do something more than a run; something that was more challenging and required a higher level of fitness,” said Boykin. “5Ks and 10Ks are every weekend, but we wanted to do something that was different, unique and challenging in a new way and only held once a year.”

Boykin said at first he wanted to make the course very challenging just to see who was capable of completing it, but he decided that he would rather design a course that can be completed by anyone and mastered by those who have a higher level of physical fitness.

The course itself consists of several intermittent climbing and lifting obstacles, all of which are designed to mandate teamwork. You couldn’t get over the 10 foot wall by yourself, now could you? “This course does require strength, not just someone who can run fast,” said Boykin.

Aside from the satisfaction of competing and finishing the O-Run and potentially winning a cash prize, a portion of the proceeds from the O-Run will benefit the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program (SCLEAP).

SCLEAP is an employee assistance program that provides services and programs to meet the needs of state police officers as well as non-sworn administrative staff members and their families. Services offered include Critical Incidental Stress Management Training, Suicide Intervention and Prevention Training, and Alcohol Rehabilitation.

Eric Skidmore, an SCLEAP Chaplin and representative, said that the funds generated by the O-Run will help support their Post Critical Incident Seminar, which is a three-day seminar offered to officers all over the state that have been involved in traumatic incidents.

The first annual Palmetto State O-Run Team Challenge will be held on March 20 in Lynchburg.

Registration information and directions to the course can be found at www.theorun.com. There is a $100+ fee per group to participate. For more information, please call 803.404.4142.