Over 550 children gathered for the Spartan Kids "mud run" this weekend at the Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton. Spartan Kids is modeled after the Spartan Sprint, an intense obstacle race testing endurance and strength. While this weekend's adult version of the race featured a five-mile course and obstacles like jumping over a pit of fire, young Spartans sprinted a quarter mile uphill before racing through miniature, age-appropriate obstacles. A story about the messy event ran on page 1 in Monday's TIMES NEWS.

TOP RIGHT: Competitors inch through a muddle tunnel crawl during the Spartan Kids race.BOTTOM RIGHT: Gathering after the race were Palmerton friends, from left, Jacob Martinez, Madison Martinez, Ben Serfass and Kane Nelson, all age 11.BELOW: A young competitor splashes into a mud pit. He was the first to reach the pit and test its depth.