Newry, ME – Last year, there was mud, blood and beer. This year, with nearly twice as many obstacles to maneuver through, racers partaking in Sunday River’s second annual Tough Mountain Challenge race can expect even more of a good thing at the Maine ski and snowboard resort.

Taking place on Saturday, July 23, the Tough Mountain Challenge is an alpine foot race and obstacle course open to the first 1,000 competitors ages 18 and older who sign up. From crawling through mud to running through a battering ram of active snowguns, this five-kilometer race takes participants across the summer slopes of Sunday River while pinning against them 16 of the resort’s best natural and man-made obstacles along the way.

Last year, the course included 12 obstacles. This year, there are 16 obstacles—three of which have two or three surprise features stacked on top of one another for added effect.

Some of the new obstacles being added to this year’s course include the Hornets Nest (a B-Net thigh burner), Burning Man (an area where racers will run over fire), and Gravity Plunge, an obstacle that combines and slip ‘n slide with a man-made pond and a dirt pile exit, all while being soaked with a snowmaking fan gun.

Registration for the Tough Mountain Challenge costs $49 and available through ToughMountain.com although it is now nearly sold out. The event is open to racers ages 18 and older. Registration includes entry into the race, a Tough Mountain t-shirt and commemorative mug filled with a celebratory beverage of the competitor’s choice. Registration will be available on-site the day of the event for $59 only if there are spots still available.

Also new this year, Sunday River invites little ones to take on a mini kid-friendly version of the adult course. Duly named the Mini Mountain Challenge, the race is designed for kids ages 4-12 years old and is completely free to participate in.

The Tough Mountain Challenge takes place out of the ski resort’s South Ridge base area.