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Community Corner

Guts & Glory Challenge Lives Up to Its Name

Special Olympics Connecticut fundraiser a success.

It’s safe to say the first annual Guts & Glory Challenge, held Saturday at Portland’s Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park, lived up to its billing as a true test of mental and physical endurance.

“This is not wimpy,” said Amy Martin of Avon, who completed the 3K adventure race with her husband, Jon. “For somebody who is not in shape, I think this would be a very challenging course for them. Oh my god, it’s a work out.”

Adrienne Spitz of Quaker Hill had a similar take on the event, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Connecticut.

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“It’s a little intense,” Spitz said moments after crossing the finish line.  “It’s a challenge.”

An estimated 150 runners, many of them first responders, navigated the rugged obstacle course hauling a water-filled cylinder.

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Some participants competed in teams. Others went it alone.

One obstacle that frustrated many a Challenge-taker was a greased tube crawl, uphill.

“That was horrible,” Jon Martin said.

Added his wife: “It was almost impossible … I covered my elbows and knees in dirt to get traction.”

Much groaning also could be heard where racers had to shimmy under a long chain link fence that lay horizontally just above the ground.

“That was not fun,” Spitz said with a laugh.

The course also included a tire run, a cargo net and wall climb, a mud slide and a zip line.

“It was definitely worth getting a babysitter for,” Jon Martin said.

Jackie Turro of Special Olympics Connecticut chalked the Guts & Glory Challenge up as a success.

“It’s really important that we do different stuff to bring awareness to our program and our athletes, and all the things we do year-round,” she said. “Events like this reach out to a different group than may normally come out to some of our events. It’s a great way to spread the word and get athletes interested in everything that we do.”

“A lot of people think we’re just Winter Games or Summer Games,” Turro continued. “We have over 33 sports, and we provide those programs to our athletes on a year-round basis.  So all this goes to support that.”

Race results are available at www.thelastmileracing.com.

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