Mud Madness

They were all clean at the starting line.

More than 450 people turned out Saturday for the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department SWAT team’s first-ever Mud Run. Every one of them needed a shower by the time the running was done.

Held at the Jack Bones Equestrian Center at the Pitchess Detention camp in Saugus, the event provided an opportunity for the public to meet, and get dirty with, SWAT and other law enforcement officers.

“Most of the community sees us in emergency stiuations,” said Sgt. Jack Ewell of the sheriff department’s SWAT team. “We wanted them to get to know us in a more social type situation.”

Beginning at a place dubbed “Creek Swamp Pond,” the grueling course wound its way through five filthy miles of water obstacles, dirt obstacles and obstacles made from combinations of the two.

There was “Big Daddy Pond,” the “Low Crawl Pit,” and a host of other areas designed to dirty and exhaust participants, which in addition to the public included officers from numerous Southern California law enforcement agencies and members of the military.

Most runners--who were required to wear boots and pants--competed in five-member teams. Four of the five had to cross the finish line together in order to receive an official time.

Steve Ramirez of the San Diego Police Department took top honors, slogging through the course in 34 minutes, 26 seconds.

The fastest team was the “Cyborgs” from the Lakewood sheriff’s station, who finished in 39 minutes, 39 seconds.

The top female team, from the sheriff’s department, finished in 49 minutes, 43 seconds. Their name? Mud Packin’ Mamas.