Belles have a ball at Mudderella
A group of local women pose during the Mudderella event held on Sept. 12 in Slippery Rock. Through teamwork and perseverance, the group from Greene County – which was led by Amy Benson – was successful in conquering every obstacle they faced.
Amy Benson (center) poses with her daughters, Tayler and Haley Benson, after her group completed the Mudderella event.
WAYNESBURG – On Sept. 12, a group of local women gathered in Slippery Rock to face a challenge they had been training for all summer.
The group of nearly 30 women, ranging in age from 17 to 54 years, completed their first-ever Mudderella event. Mudderella events, designed by women for women, are mud-coated obstacle courses that stretch from five to seven miles, depending on the course. The Mudderella celebrates the strength of women and encourages camaraderie as it is noncompetitive and allows for teams to complete the course together.
The course in Slippery Rock had a total of 14 obstacles, including a massive mud pit, a water slide, climbing obstacles, and more. Through teamwork and perseverance, the group from Greene County was successful in conquering every obstacle they faced.
The women attribute their success to the time and energy that their trainer, Amy Benson, put into training them. Benson had led the women in a summer boot camp in preparation for the Mudderella at In Motion Dance + Fitness. Many of the women had been working out with each other for years under the direction of Benson’s regular fitness class.
Once word of the Mudderella event spread to the group, they decided it was something they wanted to try. Benson stepped up to the helm to train the women for this ultimate challenge. The women met four days a week for an hour, running, lifting, and sweating all the while.
According to Nikki Baily, one of the women in the group trained by Benson, the intense training paid off, though the Mudderella was not without its difficulties. The hardest part of the Mudderella was dealing with the general sloppiness of the course and the frigidness of the mud pit.
“It was easy to do the other obstacles because she trained us so well,” Baily explained.
Though it was hard work to get where they are today, Benson continuously encouraged and motivated her class throughout their training.
“She put her heart and soul into the boot camp,” Baily said, explaining that Benson was devoted to seeing the women grow stronger.
The group can look back now and appreciate the creativity that Benson poured into their workouts, while also recognizing that she had continuously adapted to their needs.
“She knew how to push you but not too hard that you’d give up,” Baily noted.
Over the summer, the women not only saw changes in their bodies, but also in their confidence, which they credit to Benson. “She is truly amazing,” Baily stated. “She believes in all of us.” Benson is recognized by her class as the reason they both got to Mudderella and as the reason they got through it.
According the Baily, the women are hoping to participate in more Mudderellas in the future. As winter approaches, they plan to train through their regular fitness class at In Motion Dance + Fitness and then ramp up the intensity again over the summer through another boot camp before attempting the next Mudderella.
As the women contemplate making the Mudderella a messy tradition in the years to come, they extend their utmost gratitude to Amy Benson.
“She’s so special to all of us,” Bailey explained. “She’s a good friend, a mentor, and like family.”
For the women whose lives she’s touched, Amy Benson is a true inspiration.