CAMDEN — The first heat  of the three-heat 5K Run For Your Life adventure race at Camden Snow Bowl began just after 9 a.m. with 34 intrepid runners starting up Ragged Mountain. Just before the second heat began, the first batch of runners crossed the finish line, successfully swimming across Hosmer Pond and leaping over fire. The third heat finished at approximately noon. A range of runners turned out for the first-ever emergency service challenge, for a wild morning filled with high spirits and laughter that spilled over the mountain.

Morgan Laidlaw, of Camden, made his way through the muddy course in 40 minutes, 14 seconds, the fastest time of the day. He was followed by Jack Hauprich, 43 minutes and 21 seconds, and then Jake Feener, 43 minutes, 44 seconds.

"Today’s Emergency Service Challenge Run For Your Life was a great event," said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley, one of the event's organizers. "The crowd was happy and energetic. Participants were smiling and cheering each other on through the rain and mud on Ragged Mountain. The volunteers who came out were instrumental in making the day a success. It is great to see the lively support given to  our local emergency service providers. The cooperation between Camden Fire Department, Camden First Aid Association, and Hope Fire Department, today was key to making this a great day for everyone involved.  Job well done!"
 

First heat

Morgan Laidlaw, 40.14.75

Jack Hauprich, 43.21.48

Jake Feener, 43.44.98

Kristopher MacCabe, 44.13.56

Patrick Conry, 45.10

Larry Turner, 46

Matthew Fendl, 46.15

Shawn St. Cyr, 50

Bob Wiley, 55.30

Matthew Heath, 50.01

Ryan Graffam, 56.02

Brandon Graffam, 56.02

Charles Grunder, Jr., 56.03

Connor Winchenbach, 56.04

Peter Vannorsdall, 56.05

Peter Mason-Peter, 59

Dakota Brown, 61.35

Katie Urey, 62.08

Joe Dinapoli, 64

Allison Leonard, 64.19

Chris Roman, 64.22

Anthony Nelson, 69.58

Scotty Robinson, 70

James Bodman, 70.01

Ryan Morton, 70.04

Eric Davis, 70.47

Krystal Burch, 71.33

Eric Korman, 71.55

Chris Cloutier, 75.38



Second Heat

Eric Matthews, 48.32.6

Justin Vinci, 49.29

Michael Crockett, 60.22.2

Chris Richmond, 57.47.5

J. Michael Pierce, 57.47.6

Jeffrey Kidder, 60.09.32

Lacy Markham, 60.09.33

Melinda Larrabee, 60.09.57

Jen Littlefield, 60.11.33

David Jester, 60.12.22

Dean Stanton, 60.12.48

Kenneth Brilliant, 60.13.50

Justin Hagar, 60.13.50

Dale Real, 60.13.51

Clare Dufort, 60.15.45

Adam Capponi, 60.16.30

Brandi Ludden, 60.16.31

Don Kosloski, 60.27.02

Meg Salmon-Carson, 60.17.04

Nadine Hagar, 60.17.19

Carolin Schmid, 60.19.03

Mary Kandziolka, 60.19.03

Steve Corson, 60.19.51

Bryant Walls, 60.19.53

Amanda Corson, 60.19.53

Erin Walls, 60.19.54

Don Williams, 60.21.03

Erik Hopkins, 60.25.40

Jared Mitkus, 60.25.42

Suann Schiffer, 60.25.42

Scott Plaistaid, 60.25.43

Hollie Jalbert, 60.25.44

Mike Choate, 60.25.44



Third Heat

Sam Crockett, 51.22.45

Jack Crockett, 51.22.47

Ronald Stevenson, 58.16.91

Kayla Vaughn, 58.18.82

Hunter Shade, 60.02.02

Michael Vilchinsky, 60.03.43

Shelby Hicks, 60.01.39

MarkVannorsdall, 60.11.05

Nick LeClair, 60.12.45

Eyal Gilat, 60.12.46

Anita Brosius-Scott, 60.14.22

Timothy Varney, 60.17.22

Linda Varney, 60.17.22

Manaan Alexander, 60.20.25

Russell Gardiner, 60.21.46

Richard Beaudoin, 60.21.47

Jeremy Beaudoin, 60.21.48

Casey Beaudoin, 60.21.54

P.J. Perfecto, 60.22.03

Don Arseneault, III, 60.22.07

Don Arsenault, Jr., 60.22.11

The Run For Your Life race on Ragged Mountain, a rugged, yet fun, competition attracted seasoned triathaletes, as well as the novice ready for a different kind of adventure. The race sent competitors up and down the mountain on ski and bike trails, and racers of all levels — participants included business owners and college students to cops, wardens and mothers who just like to run and climb. These endurance enthusiasts, in teams or going solo, swung by ropes, crawled under barbed wire, and swam 160 meters in frigid spring water. Obstacles were being placed near the summit of Ragged Mountain, as well as several spots lower in the hill, in the woods near a bike trail, and another near the toboggan chute.

Midcoast fire chiefs signed up, a major from the Maine State Warden service — the race even drew television stars, such as game warden Kris MacCabe, who appears on the Animal Planet show North Woods Law.

The ongoing goal is to raise awareness of the need for a new generation of firefighters, paramedics and first responders in every community, whether volunteer or career. In addition to the race, the day offered the opportunity to talk with representatives from a variety of organizations dedicated to public safety — fire departments, police and ambulance services, Maine's Forest and Warden services.

A huge thank-you to the following businesses and sponsors for supporting the Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge

Rockport Automotive


Coastal Preventative Dental Hygiene Services


Blake Veterinary Hospital


Loyal Biscuit


Camden Hospital for Animals


Owls Head Transportation Museum


Pro Rental


Apartments on Elm LLC


Rankin's Hardware


Maine Lobster Festival


Cappy's Chowder House


Hammond Tractor Company


French and Brawn


Union Farm Equipment


Penobscot Bay Pilot


Camden National Bank


Allen Agency

“The Run For Your Life Challenge is a fun, energetic way to increase awareness of the need for citizens in our communities to help provide emergency services,” said Farley. “We are challenging participants to push themselves mentally and physically, and we are promoting involvement in local fire departments, ambulance services and law enforcement agencies.”

Coordinated with the effort of the Camden Fire Department, Hope Fire Department and Camden First Aid Association, working together as Emergency Service Challenge, the Run For Your Life race was an endurance trial, inspired by actual situations encountered by firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement. 

Emergency Service Challenge represents firefighters and paramedics who encourage more citizens to get involved with their local fire departments, ambulance services, and law enforcement agencies. It is working to help usher in the next generation of first responders.

Obstacles for the course include:

Blazing Forearms - Hoist cinder blocks 15 feet into the air with a rope and pulley, hand-over-hand.

Bucket Brigade –Fill two 5-gallon buckets with gravel and carry them to the dumping location.

Maiden Cliff Rescue- Climb 15 feet up a rope.

Rescue Sandy - Using teamwork, carry Poor Sandy on a stretcher over a wall and to her destination.

The Burning Building - Crawl 15 meters under barbed wire with smoke pouring over your head.

Abigail's Alibi - Use your brain to solve the puzzle and get Abigail's Alibi. You will be quizzed about Abigail's Alibi before the Get Wet! Obstacle.

High-Rise Hell - Carry a hose pack on your back up and down a steep ski slope.

Mighty River Jump - Using a rope, swing like Tarzan over a a mighty stream.

Who Put These Here? - Run through a sea of tires, just like football players.

Just Add Water - Crawl through a culvert that is partially filled with water.

Get Wet! - Swim 160 meters across Hosmer Pond

Fire Jump- Need we say more?


Diminishing volunteerism is an issue that has been affecting fire departments across the country, mostly in rural areas where communities rely heavily on volunteer firefighters. The declining rate of volunteerism began in the early 1980s. As firefighters age out, there has been a corresponding lower number of younger men and women stepping up to take their places. The Emergency Service Challenge, comprising fire departments and emergency medical services, intends to change that trend.

"Maine is the oldest state in the nation and Knox County is the oldest county," said Farley. "People come here to retire and they become engaged in the community in ways other than those which require actual physical work.  We don’t have a significant young population base from which we can recruit."

In 2011, the number of volunteer firefighters was at its lowest in the U.S. since 1991, according to FireChief.com and a report of the National Fire Protection Association.

There have been a number of reasons attributed to this. Busy lives and hectic careers hinder the ability of volunteers to jump away from a job to respond to emergencies. There is also the increased expectations of training that scare off potential candidates concerned about the level of commitment. And then, there is outreach effort by local first responders to actively recruit volunteers in their communities. In some towns, there is very little.

Likewise, there has been a decline in those pursuing law enforcement careers, whether they in towns, as keepers of the peace, or in the woods, as game wardens.

But as the number of volunteers drop, communities lose their first line of defense against fires, accidents and other tragedies, which occur throughout the year, no matter how much caution and preparation.

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that there were approximately 1,100,450 firefighters in the U.S. in 2011. Of the total number of firefighters, 344,050 or 31 percent, were career firefighters and 756,400 (69 percent) were volunteer firefighters.

Most of the career firefighters (73 percent) are in communities that protect 25,000 or more people. Most of the volunteer firefighters (94 percent) are in departments that protect fewer than 25,000 people.

There are an estimated 30,145 fire departments in the U.S. Of those, 2,550 departments are all career, 1,865 mostly career, 5,530 are mostly volunteer and 20,200 are all volunteer.