Annual Events

34th Annual Mighty Mud Mania

Every year, for the past 33 years, an event has taken place at Chaparral Park designed to get you and your kids out of the house and into the MUD!  This year is no exception.  The 34th Annual Mighty Mud Mania is scheduled for this coming Friday, July 17th from 8:30 AM until 2:00 PM.  Chaparral Park is located at 5401 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale, Arizona, just north of Chaparral road, and south of the new water treatment plant and bark park at McDonald and Hayden roads.

Scottsdale.gov Website information:

“Mighty Mud Mania” began in 1976 as the “Shout It Out Decathlon,” a promotional gimmick for Johnson’s Wax “Shout” Spray pre-wash. The activity was held in Chaparral Park in Scottsdale and the Johnson’s Wax Company provided 300 white t-shirts for the participants. Johnson’s dropped the program because our Arizona mud was too tough for the pre-wash. However, the City of Scottsdale felt the activity was so successful, that our Parks and Recreation Division incorporated the event into the summer recreation program. Re-named “Mighty Mud Mania,” the activity has been held since then as the culminating activity of all the Scottsdale Parks and Recreation summer programs.

Activities are limited to ages 1 through 17, with parents, of course, and include some of the following:

• Mudville town for tiny tots & mini mud course
• Original Mud obstacle course
• MUDPITS to play in!
• Water slides.

There will be food sold during the event, and the Chaparral Aquatic Center will be open from 11AM – 3PM for those who have CLEAN swimsuits.  The event is free, but you are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to Vista del Camino food bank.

Children must wear closed toed, lace-up, or velcro shoes.  Absolutely no sandals will be permitted.  Wear old clothing & lace up those shoes nice and tight to play in the mud.  A permission slip signed by parent/guardian is required to participate.

Please refer to the Official Scottsdale website for more information, permission slips, volunteer information, and driving directions.

3rd Annual Nathan Tempe Triathlon

Last year I joined the ranks of those who have completed a USAT sanctioned triathlon.  Over the past year, I completed 2 additional triathlons and the El Tour de Tucson.  This weekend, I will be entering my fourth triathlon and my second Nathan Tempe Triathlon.

A triathlon combines three sports: swimming, biking, and running, usually in that order.  Last year it was the Sprint distance which consisted of a 750 meter swim, a 13 mile bike, and only 3.2 miles on foot.  This year, after competing in a Quarterman (1/4th the distance of an ironman), and an Olympic distance at the Deuces Wild race in Showlow, I will graduate to the Olympic distance.

Needless to say, Sunday will be a busy day, and a tiring one.  If you have never been to a triathlon, it is a spectacle, and since it is at Tempe Town Lake, it’s a very easily accessible spectacle…especially for Scottsdale residents.

Thankfully, in Scottsdale, you’re only 20 to 30 minuts from anything you desire (short of skiing and the mountains up north) which makes accessing Tempe quick and painless.  Tempe borders Scottsdale on the south.  If you’re looking to have a great time, I recommend showing up well before race time (6:30AM) unless you just want to witness transition.  Once a race begins, navigating to your desired location is usually difficult because the course is blocked off.

Wish me luck!  I can’t wait!