The Rugged Race, billed as Tasmania’s only obstacle course mud run, will add new obstacles, a shorter course and finisher medals when it returns to Nugent next month.
The event will be held at Redbanks on Saturday, November 28. Organisers are hoping for their biggest year yet after more than 1,400 participants and spectators attended in 2025.
They expect around 1,600 participants this year.
The main seven kilometre course has more than 45 obstacles, including a 50-metre water slide, rope climbs, monkey bars and mud trenches.
It is being redesigned so returning participants face a different route. Details of the new obstacles are expected to be announced in November.
“We’ve got some pretty big changes coming to the course this year, including a few major obstacles that we’re really excited about,” event organiser Isobel Healey said.
“We’re keeping the details quiet for now, but anyone who’s done the race before can expect a few surprises.”
A new 3.5-kilometre fun run will sit alongside the seven kilometre event and junior races are open to children aged 10 and over.
The timed competitive wave will also return. The race became an official Obstacle Australia qualifying event in 2025.
Organisers said the pathway helped a team of Tasmanian athletes compete at the OCR Community World Championships for the first time this year.
“It’s pretty exciting to see Tasmanian athletes getting opportunities like that,” Healey said.
Most entries are in the non-competitive fun run waves, which draw friends, families, workplaces and fitness groups.
This year the best dressed competition will add a junior category, alongside the existing prizes for individuals, duos and teams.
“Some of the costumes people turn up in are incredible,” Healey said. “It’s definitely one of the highlights of the day.”
For the first time, every finisher will receive a medal, a drink and a photo.
The on-site campground will return with a Friday night pre-party and spectators will have food vendors, a bar, music and entertainment on race day.
“We want people to make a whole weekend of it,” Healey said.
