Members of DeKalb County’s Moose (L)-Up Redemption Club (MURC) recently participated in a growing international adventure race called Spartan Race: Hurricane Heater.

The Hurricane Heater was born out of near disaster when Hurricane Irene hit last year and destroyed the local course for the Spartan Race, which was to be held the next day. Organizers switched the focus of the event to team-building, mental games and physical stamina. The goal became to finish as a team with no timing chips or clock. The event is a Spartan-style muddy adventure run that focuses on getting up when you’re knocked down and finishing what you start.

The event was held at Cliffs Insane Terrain Park in Marseilles from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The course is approximately 9 miles long; the Spartan Race directors intentionally design it so participants get lost and have to double back, so the actual length is unknown.