Newry, ME – There will be mud, there will likely be some blood, and there will most definitely be some beer at this Saturday’s third annual Tough Mountain Challenge taking place at Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine.

A total of 2,500 racers have pre-registered to run Sunday River’s five kilometer obstacle course which is sprinkled with such challenges as running snow guns, barbed wire, mud pits, and fire, up from 1,000 racers last summer and 200 competitors in 2010.

Taking place out of the resort’s South Ridge base area, the first wave of athletes will leave the start area at 10 a.m. Waves of 100 racers will leave every 15 minutes until the last group is released at 3:30 p.m. Awards will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Spectators and racers are invited to watch other competitors tackle the Tough Mountain Challenge course from two major viewing locations—the South Ridge base area and the Barker base area.

Throughout the day guests will also find an event festival complete with a live DJ, an outdoor barbeque and beer garden opening at noon, as well as live music by the Pete Kilpatrick Band starting at 1 p.m.

A kid’s version of the Tough Mountain Challenge, duly named the Mini Mountain Challenge, is also part of the festivities and will start at 3 p.m. Parents are required to sign a release form prior to the start. The Mini Mountain Challenge is a free event with categories for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 12. Kids can expect a short course that includes some uphill running, dirt, mud, obstacles, snow guns and more.

The coming weekend also marks the annual Mollyockett Days in the nearby town of Bethel, a two-day family festival featuring food, an arts and crafts fair and fireworks, plus a five kilometer road race on Sunday.