ThunderDash is more than just a mud run – it’s a community! At the heart of that community is race founders, Laura and Kevin Tift. Let’s learn more about them and how the race got started.
What inspired you to create ThunderDash mud run, and how did the idea come about?
20 years ago, we were slowly drawn in to the race production field and have since accumulated experience and equipment to produce events. Working for other race directors on their events allowed us to see the ins and outs of race production. In 2013 we participated in a mud run called Warrior Dash and knew at that moment we had found the type of event we wanted to produce!
Can you describe the journey of starting and growing ThunderDash from its inception to where it is today?
Once we decided on the type of event, the real work started. We started looking for a location that had to meet specific requirements. We struck out on a couple of properties and one day riding bikes east of Comfort, we saw a property that met all of our needs.
We went back after the ride to get an address and met Larry, the land owner. For those of you old enough; picture the “Marlboro Man,” starched shirt, white cowboy hat and a killer tan. Within 5 minutes of talking at the front gate we had a location! Larry and his brother Otto have been great partners in our journey, always helpful and asking if they could help out in any way.
Six months later and lots of weed eating we had our first “practice” event in April of 2013 so we could shake out the kinks and start off with a bang the following September. We typically start work in earnest on the weekend 4th of July with every available weekend out at Comfort grooming, building and preparing the course. We rely heavily on our family and friends for help putting on this event and we couldn’t do it without them
What sets ThunderDash apart from other mud run events, and what unique experiences can participants expect?
The TD course is a “one off” purpose-built obstacle course. This allows us to have very unique obstacles unlike the traveling events. Because of this, many of our obstacles incorporate the actual terrain. Hence our saying that our obstacles are manmade, nature made or a combination of both.
We encourage racers to form teams and compete with other teams. Some of our obstacles can be accomplished quicker as team utilizing more bodies to climb over. We build the course in way that ALL athletic abilities can complete the event.
How do you ensure the safety of participants while still providing an exhilarating and challenging experience?
We employ approximately 100 staff the day of the event. We place a minimum of 2 people at every obstacle so they can ensure that everyone knows how to properly do the obstacle safely and watch for compliance. They also monitor the stability and structure of all the obstacles throughout the race. All of our staff teams are equipped with two way radios so they can instantly reach senior staff or an EMT if needed. Additionally, each year we inspect all of our obstacles to test for safety
Most of our structures are permanent and much more stable than a temporary obstacle. We over engineer EVERYTHING! Many of the more challenging obstacles have alternate routes that we call “longer way home” so there isn’t a time benefit if you skip an obstacle. Many of the obstacles have varying degrees of difficulty so the racers can choose their own challenge.
What challenges did you face in organizing and hosting ThunderDash, and how did you overcome them?
Water is the biggest challenge because we never know what Mother Nature is going to do.
Currently Comfort is in the extreme drought area while a few years back we had to postpone because there was so much rain that our course was flooded and emergency 4-wheelers would not be able to get out on the course to get to participants. We have several options for getting water for the obstacles but it is very time consuming and can only be done at the last minute.
The course changes every year because it goes right thru a working rock quarry and so the terrain is different every year. Sometimes we have a hard time figuring out where to put our dramatic and most popular obstacle; the tire wall that is always dropped over a quarry wall.
Can you share any memorable moments or success stories from past ThunderDash events?
We have a lot, but here are a few that stand out!
Ring Find
During one of our wetter years; one of our staff saw a team digging through a large muddy puddle after the tunnel crawl. They said that one of them had lost a wedding ring. Our staff person got their information and passed in on to us. Two weeks later after pumping the “puddle” for 24 hours, we found the ring with a metal detector! Needless to say his wife was VERY happy when we got it back to them!!
Lone Star Spartans ran all 7 waves as a fundraiser for a friend fighting cancer and one of them; Jaye DiPane did all 7 it barefoot.
Safety crew freed a bunny from a fence with a pair of upset coyotes looking on right before race started
An ultra-athlete injured her ankle because in her words “she did something stupid” and all she cared about as the EMTs brought her off the course was that she get her free beer and medal so they drove her through the post party with the live band and everybody cheered her fortitude.
Missing obstacle
When we had our first trial run event the Spider Webs obstacle was installed late Friday night. The night crew finishing up the course could not find it in the dark and it was left off the course only to be found Saturday afternoon during teardown
Loch Ness
Our 2nd race a nest of paper wasps had moved into one of the dead trees of the obstacle, luckily one of our staff found them before anybody encountered them in a bad way. Wasp spray just p#$@ed them off more so we rerouted the course around them. Wildlife 1, Race 0
Hanging out at the showers [not creepy] talking to the racers after their wave and hearing all the raves about the course and volunteers out on the course, it makes all the long hours of work worth it!
We found out that one couple met at our race helping each other get through the obstacles and 4 years later they came back to tell us they had gotten married!! A true ThunderDash love story.
How did you select Comfort, TX for ThunderDash?
We are cyclists and we regularly rode in and around the Comfort area. We wanted more people to discover this town so they would frequent the shops and restaurants. We literally decided to start our own production company after a bike ride during lunch at High’s Cafe in Comfort.
What do you hope participants will take away from their experience at ThunderDash?
Memories, challenges overcome, doing something they didn’t think they could do and just having fun playing in the mud like a kid again. And even if they have done other obstacle course races, we hope that they appreciate the uniqueness of ThunderDash.
We are the only event like this that encourages them to bring the whole family and actually stick around at the post-race party! The post-race party even has an inflatable obstacle course for the kiddos and we have a hay ride taking spectators out on the course so they can actually see their friends and family doing some of the obstacles – none of this costs extra.
How does ThunderDash contribute to the local community, both economically and socially?
Over the years ThunderDash has donated over $35,000 back into the local community through direct donations and service groups earning money for their charities. We hire local vendors for needed services and supplies. We attract a diverse group of racers from all over and introduce them very intimately to the TX Hill Country. We have local businesses represented at our post party
What are your plans for the future of ThunderDash, and are there any new developments or expansions on the horizon?
We are going to remain focused on growing our single home-grown event into a bigger and better experience for all who are involved including participants, volunteers, vendors and the community.
Check out ThunderDash by the numbers