“Do you promise to live life to the fullest?’’
“I do.’’
“Do you promise to cherish family and friends?’’
“I do.’’
“Do you promise to enjoy this moment?’’
“I do.’’
“Then grab some mud and put your arm around the person next to you and christen them to begin the Daniel Barden Mud Fest,’’ said Mud Fest announcer Matt St. Peter, perched high atop the starting area at MKJ Farm in Deansboro.
So they did, wave after wave of about 1,500 people who tackled either the 5K or 5-mile run Saturday despite temperatures that dropped steadily as they made their way around the muddy and hilly obstacle course. For youngsters, there was a Kids Run with obstacles similar to the ones for the adults.
For the sixth year the Barden Mud Fest honors Daniel Barden of Newton, Conn., who died in a December 2012 shooting at his elementary school. The first grader and his family lived next door to Karin Williams LaBanca of Deansboro. She and her family started the event to remember Daniel’s fun-loving spirit and enjoyment of playing outdoors.
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