Mud, muscles and money: Myrtle Beast Terrain Race will be run at former Hard Rock Park
Ryan Small participated in the Dirty Myrtle Mud Run a couple times before it was discontinued a few years ago.
He misses it, so he has decided to create his own terrain race, but he’s stepping it up a notch or two.
Small, owner of the Beast Ninja Gym and Obstacle Course for the past three years, will be holding the Myrtle Beast Terrain Race on May 21 on the site of the former Hard Rock/Freestyle amusement park in Myrtle Beach.
“It’s something I know a lot of people in the community want to continue doing,” Small said. “They were really building up a pretty big following with the Dirty Myrtle Mud Run, so it was unfortunate that he stopped doing it, so I figure I can pick up where he left off.
“I’ve had a big interest in doing something like this. Now I have an opportunity to do it.”
The course is approximately three miles long and zig-zags through an area of the former park along George Bishop Parkway in the Fantasy Harbour area.
A course that will test you
Small has built or created approximately 30 obstacles or physical challenges throughout it.
They include swinging rings, rope climbing, mud pits, a steep mountain, barriers, barbell burpees, ammo can carries, sandbag carries and low crawls.
“Some of these obstacles and some of the other things we have are pretty challenging,” Small said.
Small retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years and three combat tours with the rank of gunnery sergeant.
Raymond Houston, his partner in the terrain course and race, is also a Marine veteran who recently moved to the area from California.
“We used to do a lot of training like this,” Small said.
Small was planning to hold the race in 2020 but it was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
He has participated in several other terrain races in recent years including Gunny’s Boot Camp, the Spartan Race, and Rugged Maniac.
Many obstacles are similar to ones you’ll find in those races, the Marine Corps obstacle course and ninja competitions. The Gauntlet inflatable obstacle has been ordered and might be part of the race if it arrives in time.
Small used to work at X Gym Sports Mall across the street from the former amusement park and always thought the location would be ideal for a terrain race.
He said the property owner, who he declined to name, has committed to allowing at least one more terrain race in October, and Small said he expects to find another location where the race can become more permanent.
He hopes to hold a couple of races per year.
Community involvement
Vendors featuring supplements and other health products will be on hand, as will Marine recruiters.
Strength competitions involving things such as pull-ups, tire flips and medicine ball throws will be held.
Pizza will be provided to all competitors and more than 50 volunteers by Marco’s Pizza.
Famous Toastery will provide water and fruit, and there will be a bounce house for kids.
Small has picked up 15 sponsors for the event, and said most of them have contacted him.
Southern Asphalt cleared the land for the the course, JTE Real Estate produced fliers, and numerous sponsors have donated money.
“We’ve had great community support,” Small said. “There’s a big interest in this thing.”
Racers can participate competitively or for fun.
Small expects the winning time to be about 40 minutes.
Heats will be held in 30-minute increments beginning at 8 a.m., and Small expects to have about 100 racers per heat.
There will be cash prizes for winners.
There are already more than 100 entered in Myrtle Beast, and Small said he can accommodate about 1,000.
The entry fee is about $60 and runners can register in advance and pay online through the Myrtle Beast Facebook page.
Myrtle Beast will raise money for wounded veterans through Semper Fi.
The former park’s future
Horry County land records show that a commercial permit request was submitted Jan. 19 to build a 250,000 square foot FedEx commercial building.
The cost of construction is valued at more than $12 million. The request is under review and land records showed in early February that a permit had not been issued.
The former Hard Rock Park and Freestyle Music Park property sits at Fantasy Way, along the Intracoastal Waterway in Horry County.
It has sat mostly vacant for years as graffiti dotted what was left of the former attractions, and suspicious fires were reported on numerous occasions.
Former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, who died of COVID-19 complications about a year ago, was part of an investment group that purchased the former park site in 2018 for $3.5 million. His business partners in the venture were never made public.
The Sun News reporter Jenna Farhat contributed to this article.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 11:36 AM.
