Newry, Maine (July 17, 2012)—There will be mud, there will likely be some blood, and there will most definitely be some beer at this Saturday’s third annual Tough Mountain Challenge taking place at Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine.

2,500 racers have pre-registered to run Sunday River’s five kilometer obstacle course which is sprinkled with such challenges as running snowguns, barbed wire, mud pits, and fire .

This year’s event is up from 1,000 racers last summer and up from 200 competitors in 2010.

Taking place out of the resort’s South Ridge base area, the first wave of athletes will leave the start area at 10 a.m. Waves of 100 racers will leave every 15 minutes until the last group is released at 3:30p.m. Awards will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Spectators and racers are invited to watch other competitors tackle the Tough Mountain Challenge course from two major viewing locations—the South Ridge base area and the Barker base area.

Throughout the day guests are also invited to take advantage of the event festival planned complete with a live DJ, an outdoor barbeque and beer garden, which opens at noon, as well as live music by the Pete Kilpatrick Band starting at 1 p.m.

A kids version of the Tough Mountain Challenge, duly named the Mini Mountain Challenge , is also part of the festivities and will start at 3 p.m. Parents are required to sign a release form prior to the start.

The Mini Mountain Challenge is a free event with categories for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 12. Kids can expect a short course that includes some uphill running, dirt, mud, obstacles, snowguns and more.

Finally, the coming weekend also marks the annual Mollyockett Days in Bethel —a two-day family festival featuring food, an arts and crafts fair and fireworks, plus a five kilometer road race on Sunday.

Lodging packages are available for the weekend at start at $99 for a studio.

For more information on Sunday River’s Tough Mountain Challenge, visit www.toughmountain.com .

Sunday River is located minutes from picturesque Bethel Village in western Maine’s Mahoosuc Mountains. A true four-season destination, the resort offers eight interconnected peaks of world class skiing and snowboarding in the winter, plus award-winning golf at the acclaimed Sunday River Golf Club and mountain biking in the summer. Sunday River is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions.