Despite drought, mud run draws in dozens (August 23, 2015)
Locals debate whether town should have cancelled event
APPLE VALLEY — Dozens of community members were at Horsemans Park in Apple Valley bright and early for the annual Rockin’ the Desert Mud Run, but not everyone was in support of having the event in the midst of California’s drought.
While coordinators had notified participants in May that the mud run would instead be a mudless
run due to the serious drought, only a couple weeks later they announced the good news
that they would be able to use some water for the event.
[…]
While the whole parking lot was full due of participants Saturday, others felt the event should have been cancelled due to its water usage combined with California’s historic drought.
Apple Valley resident Sherry Pierce said that she is not happy with the town of Apple Valley for allowing the event.
We are getting charged a drought surcharge on our water bill and you are wasting it,
Pierce said.
[…]
The Apple Valley Police Activities League, the local nonprofit benefiting from the event proceeds, did release a statement saying that they would do its part to conserve water by having few mud pits than usual and an ice bath.
[…]
Lisa Aguilera of Apple Valley, however, questioned how it is possible that she and her husband be restricted from watering their lawn while the mud run was still held.
They could have a bubble run, a color run or just run,
Aguilera said.
She said that while they had participated in multiple mud runs and fests over the past 10 years, this time they chose not to.
We are in a severe drought and mandated to reduce and conserve water,
Aguilera said. This type of activity should have been modified to be a nonwater activity.
[…]
Source: Charity Lindsey, Daily Press