From lackadaisical in his 20s, to amazingly fit in his 30s

Curtis Robinson's idea of a fitness race in Alva was so appealing that the Alva Tourism Committee approved a $6,000 grant towards the budgeted $29,283 cost of the event planned for Sept. 23 in Hatfield Park.

Robinson expects 250 to 500 participants from all over the central USA. He said the nearest similar fitness race occurs in Wichita. The description on the event's website, AlvaRace.com, describes the event as "Alva's 1st Annual Impossible Obstacle Course, Race and Fitness Festival."

Robinson has placed a notice of the event on a Facebook page of people interested in such competitions and said that in just two days 25 individuals have signed up, 250 people have shown interest, and the event's description has been viewed 10,000 times. Robinson also expects to advertise in the Enid News (to cover Vance Air Force Base), the Newsgram, KNID/KXLS and other social media.

This type of event is "exploding" across the nation, he said, and in five or six years he thinks it will be accepted as an Olympic event.

The 'Impossible' Obstacle Course and Race

The event will be held in Hatfield Park, which runs along north 14th Street in Alva. Robinson looked at possibly holding the obstacle/race event at the Great Salt Plains, but when he discovered Hatfield Park, he said, "It is beautiful, and already has some exercise equipment in place along with a jogging track."

Participants can compete as individuals or in four-member teams. "I'd like to see a team of Alva police officers, a team of Alva firefighters, a team from NWOSU or a team from a church," Robinson said. Men and women will compete equally.

A discounted entry fee and sign-up period is open until Aug. 26. The individual registration fee for those 14 and older is $55. Team registration is $175.

The day of the fitness festival – Saturday, Sept. 23 – will begin with sign-in at 9 a.m., and the competition will begin at 10:30 a.m. He expects participants to be launched in waves all day long, perhaps until early evening.

The first-place winners in both the individual and team categories will receive $500, with second place winning $250 and third place $100.

If the weather is bad on Sept. 23, Robinson said, "We will run in the rain, extreme heat or extreme cold. The only thing we delay the race for is lightning."

Fun for Everyone

Robinson believes it will be a great family day in the park with bouncy toys already ordered, along with plenty of free stuff for the kids.

And the event is not only for Iron Men and Olympians.

"I'm trying to make all obstacles doable," Robinson said. "Lots of people express concern (about whether) they are in shape to do the course." The course will not have any water obstacles, but will have climbing events on rope netting (nothing over 10 feet), crawling under barriers, sand bag carries and both running in both open and wooded spaces. Robinson said he walked the course (without obstacles) in 24 minutes. With the obstacles in place, he figures it will take 20 to 40 minutes to complete the course.

"No one HAS to attempt an obstacle they know can't do, and they can step around it, but only those people who complete all the obstacles will be eligible for the prize money," he said.

The AlvaRace.com website, besides providing a registration portal, also offers the opportunity for interested parties to sign up as volunteers or sponsors.

A Calling in Fitness

Robinson said his wife, Kohannah, who works at Northwest Family Services, encouraged him to put together this event since he now has a passion for physical fitness and health.

Robinson said he was born in Enid and his family moved lots of times from coast to coast. At 18, he enlisted in the Airborne Infantry, later worked in the family construction and roofing business, eventually got his CDL license and did over-the-road trucking (which he hated), and spent about a year writing and performing folk songs. Later, he came back to northwest Oklahoma and drove saltwater trucks before marrying. He and Kohannah have four kids together.

"I wasn't very health conscious in my 20s. Now I've really found my calling and am trying to raise awareness of health and fitness, causing people to understand it can be fun and not a burden," he said.