Community Corner

Burnsville Family Takes on the '5K from Hell'

Says mom Leann Litterer: "We're like the Brady Bunch, but bigger, tougher and cuter."

This weekend, one Burnsville family faced trial by fire, mud and barbed wire at the Afton Alps: Of the 10 family members, 6 competed in the Minnesota Warrior Dash, which is also known as "the 5K from hell."

"It's a chance to push yourself to the limit," said Tom Litterer, the patriarch of the group. "It's pretty intense." 

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The blended family is made up of four boys and four girls. One of the siblings couldn't make it and two others were too young (the minimum age is 14), but 5 kids charged the obstacle course with Tom: Matt Litterer, Chad Brewer, Chelsea Spriggs, Kyleigh Spriggs, and Hailey Spriggs.

Tom, a regular runner, was nevertheless challenged by the elaborate obstacle course—which includes mud pits, high walls to scale, and fire pits, among other hazards.

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The family was just one group among 20,000 who took the Warrior Dash challenge over this . The group was clean cut and well-pressed at the crack of the starting gun.

"They took off up this hill and then disappeared for a while," said mom Leann Litterer, who formed a cheering section with the two little ones.

Leeann and the younger kids rushed to the finish area, where they could see the competitors coming through the last three obstacles. Their loved ones emerged bedraggled and filthy.

"Matt started out in a white T-shirt," Leann said. "He ended up with a gray toga and grass behind his ears."

The Litterer-Sprigg clan was in some unusual company: In true , one woman tussled with the D-Day style barbed wire crawl in a full-length wedding gown. Another man jumped the fire pits dressed as a cow. 

"There were bits of costumes and hair on the barbed wire course," Tom said.

In spite of the arduous circumstances, there was a distinct sense of camaraderie among the competitors. When one of the girls, who is terrified of heights, got stuck at the top of a tall wall other warriors cheered her on until she got to the ground. 

They all finished, except for Hailey Spriggs, 17, who broke her distal fibula on one of the last courses ("the lamest one," she said): a giant slip-and-slide angled up steep and flooded with water. Leann Litterer watched as her daughter hit the sodden tarp feet first. She landed with a wrenching motion right in a small pit, snapping a bone in her ankle.

In true warrior form, she arrived at the ER covered in mud, with her ID tag still on. She wanted to wheel herself to the finish line, but she'll have to wait until next year.

Injuries aside, the team did well. Tom's son, Chad Brewer, placed in the top 10 percent for Sunday, ranking 2,044 with 15:15 minute mile. Thomas Litterer was second in, placing 3,452 with an 18:56 minute mile.

Tom Litterer said that an ecstatic feeling swept the crowd at the finish, in spite of the 95-degree heat, bruises, scrapes and scratches.

"It was like being with 20,000 of your closest friends, all celebrating together," he said. "I've never seen so many smiles all in one place."

The family is already making an attack plan for next year's dash.

The obstacle course is the brainchild of Red Frog Events. Some of the funds raised go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, a medical center in Memphis, TN that specializes in the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases. 

The next Minnesota Warrior Dash will take place on Sept. 8, 2012.


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