ISU’s Ambush Runs for Eighth Year

Saturday marked the eighth annual running of ISU’s Ambush — A race that pushes people to their limits while encouraging them to have fun.

“Oh, it was horrible and awesome at the same time,” first-time participant Ted Delezene said.

For those taking part in The Ambush, the course provided some difficulty. Especially on the hills.

“I wanted to cry, but I didn’t,” Delezene said. “I made it.”

Yogesh and Joey, also first-time runners, agreed that the hills provided quite the challenge.

“At the far end of Red Hill, you have to come up the ridgeline and that’s really steep and that took my wind out of me,” Joey said.

The event, now in its eighth year, has been enjoying lots of community participation. Coordinator Tiffany Hatfield said she likes the numbers she’s seeing.

“We have about 230 participants, 250, running participants today. So, it’s a good year.”

New this year were a heightened climbing wall and an inflatable obstacle.

“That was crazy, it was like being born,” Delezen said in reference to the inflatable. “Yeah, the little tunnel, just pushed my head through, saw the world for the first time.”

But before you could hit the inflatable, you had to hit the slip n slide. Something that seemed to be a crowd-pleaser.

“The slide was really great,” Yogesh said. “Yeah, I loved everything.”

“I think I made the most distance,” Delezene added.

“That was like the best part,” Bryson Blad said. “That was great.”

Overall, exhausted and dirty as many of the participants may have been, they all seemed interested in running it again next year.

“Yeah, it’s a blast,” Blad said. “I have a lot of fun, so why not do it again.”

“Definitely. I’ll be participating next year,” Joey said. “Me too,” Yogesh added.