Urban invasion obstacle challenge in Old Town Pocatello

It may have been raining Saturday, but that didn’t stop about 150 people from heading outside and running around Old Town Pocatello. They were raising money for the Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency, or SEICAA.

Team Super Fabulous said despite smelling like egg, being exhausted and wet, the two teachers and two office staffers from the Blackfoot Science and Technology Charter School had a great time.

“After we were all soapy on our hands and then we had to do monkey bars, I think that was the one where we went, ‘really?'” said Julie Christiansen. “But even that one wasn’t bad, it was fun. It was a really fun event.”

Some of the obstacles were supposed to be challenging, others very simple, while others were improved from last year.

“We added more tires and spread the egg toss out,” said Kerri Harmon, owner of the Muse Boutique. She said last year her obstacle had teams dress in tiaras and tutus, something that took longer than they expected. So she changed it this year, and said it paid off. “It made it much more difficult and added another level to it that made the fun part go up a little bit.”

Local businesses and organizations sponsored the event and thought of the obstacles themselves. Harmon said even if teams didn’t get one of the awards, they still had fun.

There were three different categories for the awards: best time, best costume and best team name. The best team name was awarded to “My Wife Made Me Do This.”

The business or organization with the best obstacle also got a prize, but the rest of the money goes to SEICAA.

“It’s the way we are able to provide emergency services to our clientele,” said Deb Hemmert, executive director of SEICAA. “We use it for a wide variety of things and we help with the GED program.”

Hemmert said she’s grateful for all the community support for the event. She said this is the second time the event has happened, and they’re going to continue it because it’s so unique.

And team Super Fabulous said they hope their students can also learn something from this.

“I want them to get that they can get out there and have a good time and be physically active,” Christiansen said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, or if you look ridiculous and have to do crazy things to get out there. Just be active.”

Anyone over 14 is welcome in the race, but minors do need a parent or guardian’s permission. SEICAA has provided services to low-income, disabled and elderly residents in the seven southeastern Idaho counties since 1969.

For more information about the Urban Invasion Obstacle Challenge, visit their website here: pokyurbaninvasion.com.