Hinckley children take on Royal Warrior Challenge

HINCKLEY – Jake Austin probably enjoyed Saturday’s Royal Warrior Challenge at Pioneer Park in Hinckley as much as the more than 30 children who participated in the fun fitness event.

“Every day at school, I’m telling the kids, ‘Get outside and find something to do,’" said Austin, who teaches P.E. at Bristol Grade School in nearby Yorkville. “So I was thinking what a great opportunity to bring to the community an event like this, specifically geared towards kids.”

Austin, who was born and raised in Hinckley, was a standout runner at Hinckley-Big Rock High School and ran in college as well. He came up with the idea for the Royal Warrior Challenge a couple of years ago and brought it to the Hinckley Parks and Recreation Board, of which he is a member.

“There’s hundreds of them out there for adults, but not for kids,” said Austin. “So it’s just giving these kids an opportunity to find something fun, but then healthy for them to do – something a little bit different. It’s not just going out and running. Adding the obstacles makes it a little more fun and challenging for them.”

Children in four different age groups between first and eighth grade climbed over bales of straw, ran through tire steps, army-crawled under a snow fence, wove through a maze of pumpkins, and jumped over a mud pit, over a three-quarter-mile long course.

Even though Austin doesn’t record the times from the race, stating that every kid who finishes is a winner, there were several children who had impressive performances.

Jolee Larson of Hinckley was the fastest finisher of the day, completing the course in five minutes even.

“It was really fun,” said Larson.

The only other race Larson has competed in was the Girls on the Run 5K, where she finished first.

Asked if she was expecting to beat all of the boys in the race, Larson said with a laugh, “Maybe.”

Allison Ryan, 13, from Hinckley, competed in the junior high age group and completed the course in 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

“You needed more endurance to get through the obstacles, so it was kind of hard,” Allison said.

David Gawel from Hinckley had two children running in the event: his son, Andrew, 10, and his daughter Brynn, 8.

“They like climbing through the mud, and climbing over the hay bales,” said Gawel. “They did it last year, too, and they had a lot of fun.”

He said that the park district and Jake Austin did an excellent job setting up the course.

“It’s great for the kids. … Get 'em out and tire ‘em out,” Gawel said.

Kris Ohnstad, Hinckley Parks and Recreation coordinator, was very pleased with the turnout on Saturday and said all of the goals of the two-year-old event were met.

“You can come out on a beautiful day like this and have a lot of fun,” said Ohnstad. “You’re still getting exercise and being with your friends, socializing as well.”

Sponsors for the event included Bountiful Blessings Farm Produce in Hinckley, who donated the pumpkins; Complete Automotive Maintenance in Big Rock, who donated tires; and the Hinckley Police, who donated water.

The next park district event for children in the Hinckley area is Halloween Fest on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Plowman’s Park in Big Rock. Hinckley Parks and Rec will be sponsoring the Haunted Hay Ride. Everything at the event, except food, is free.