Don Campbell / HP staff
Athlete Austin Carlson joins his team as they wait for the start of Dirty Bird 2014, Saturday, April 12, 2014, at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers wait for the start Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Teams prepare to run through a mud pit Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers make their way through a mud pit Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
An athlete makes his way through a mud pit Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers make their way through a mud pit Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers make their way through an obstacle course Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers make their way over a fence Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
From left, Emily Bostic, Jordan Markham and Amanda VanHusan work to flip a tire Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Zack Cross crawls under under an obstacle Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Racers cool down Saturday, April 12, 2014, during Dirty Bird 2014 held at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. Don Campbell / HP staff
Brandi Koehler, from Benton Harbor, washes off after competing in the Dirty Bird 2014 held Saturday, April 12, 2014, at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Hundreds of athletes competed in the 8 kilometer race that included a variety of military-style obstacles, hilly terrain, and mud pits. Proceeds from the event funds the Military Veterans' Scholarship at Southwestern Michigan College. This was the second year that I have covered the Dirty Bird Mud Run at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac. Last year temps were in the mid 30s and a chilly wind was blowing. This year weather was great, at least for the spectators. I don't know how much fun it was for the athletes especially when navigating the mud pits but folks had a great time and all proceeds fund the Military Veterans' Scholarship program at SMC.