Book, Wine and Time: August 2017

In late 2016, I started to hear about this new "Harry Potter" themed 5k race making its way across America. Like so many others, I was excited and the first thought was TAKE MY MONEY! But after I started reading what was proposed, I started getting a feeling that it was too good to be true. A weekend long festival with a 5k obstacle course mud run, 1-mile broom run, inflatable obstacle course for kids, food, camping, hay maze, pumpkin chunkin, wizard chess, trivia, mechanical broom, costume/cosplay, autumnal soccer, wizard sports, witchway hunt, campfire stories, hundreds of vendors, drone live stream of the race, live entertainment, free swag and much more for 2,500 people in 12 different events and all for the low price of $110.

I was interested in the Virginia race, which was 7th on the event list, so I planned to wait and see what the other events were like first. I'm glad I did because as it turns out, there would never be one Muddy Mortal Event. Muddy Mortal cancelled the first four events (Dallas, Seattle, SoCal, and Flagstaff) before stating they were filing for bankruptcy right before the fifth event in Denver.

After the Dallas "postponement", I sent an email to Muddy Mortal asking for information since all questions from ticket holders were getting deleted off their Facebook page. I received a response (below on May 30, 2017) which they would add me to a lawsuit if I wrote anything. So I decided to start researching the company and grabbing all the screenshots I could get just in case something like this would happen.

Below is all the information I have collected concerning Muddy Mortal. The easiest way I could think to share it was to put it in a timeline form for the public to see, share and use to try and get their money back from this company.

As far as the owners of Muddy Mortal (FitGeek Events, LLC), they have a lot of other business out there. I'm looking into them as well but that information is not listed here. I will continue to look for information and will update as that information is found.

News Links:

ORM: Muddy Mortal Cancels

CBS Denver: Harry Potter-Style Race Cancelled Amid Scam Concerns

ABC 10: Wizard-themed 5K mud runs abruptly canceled

10 On Your Side Wavy: Setbacks to Blame for 5k Abruptly Canceling in Chesapeake

4 New York: Harry Potter Event Cancelled Without Refunds
Blog: The Muddy Mortal 5k Scam
Westworld: Mortal Muddy Canceled: Let the Mud-Slinging Begin!
Mud Run Guide: Muddy Mortal Reviews from the Community
The Telegraph: A Fun Run may not be so much fun if the promoters pull out
Q13 News: Seattle’s ‘Muddy Muggle’ race canceled; Harry Potter fans cry scam

8-8-2016

A website and Facebook page (with over 58,000 members) was up and running.

These pictures were later supplied by a news station covering the story.

Free stuff promised with purchase depending on what package you got: Finisher’s medal, custom bib, event t-shirt, mud splat tattoos, badge, butterbeer mug, wizard hat, patronus coin, muddy mortal wand and swag bags.

They also offered Muddy Mortal Transformation Challenge.

And even more with the sister event Wizard Warrior in four locations (Seattle, Denver, Twin Cities and Atlanta. This was to be on Sunday of the Muddy Muggle.

Sponsorship Packet

8-20-2016

Muddy Muggle offered six locations for the events to start but later added a total of 12 for 2017 and more for 2018

8-23-2016

Tonks and Aurors was announced as the live entertainment for the Atlanta Muddy Muggle Event. Muddy Mortal also posted about Major League Quidditch.

8-24-2016

FitGeek Events, LLC (owners of Muddy Muggle/Muddy Mortal) became a Domestic Limited Liability Company Licensed in Georgia under Control Number: 16080293. It was formed on August 24, 2016 with owner being listed as Jamie Renee’ Guined. Jamie is a former NASA Exercise Scientist and married to Rachel Huey Guined. Rachel later is quoted as saying she is the COO of this business.

The principal business address is 191 Smokehouse Road, Cordele, GA 31015.

Johnny Steverson was also listed as Vice President of Muddy Mortal but since has deleted this from his Linkedln page.

Mr. Steverson was also linked to the 2016 Space City Comic Con as a co-owner. You can read about the issues on Space City below.

A Bit of a Bumpy Flight for Space City Comic Con Before William Shatner Lands
Space City Comic (CON)- Thousands Swindled, Contracts Broken and Many Still Looking For Answers
Space City Comic Con Official Says Charlie Hunnam “Strong-armed” Them [UPDATED]

As I was researching other scams, I came across Jamie's other business SeaSpace Exploration & Research Society, Inc. She states this is a pending 501(c)(3) non-profit society who funds and operates conservation, education, exploration, and research projects devoted to advancing the human exploration of sea and space. The website and Facebook page has been deleted but she is still running one of the projects.

Project Poseidon is a 100-day undersea research expedition at the Aquarius undersea laboratory scheduled for May 4, 2018. Aquarius as confirmed that this is not taking place.

PHEnOM Project is still active. Jamie has promised 20 citizen-scientist astronaut candidates 2 year trainings (mostly on-line with 2 on-site visits) with the end result being they would be eligible to fly on suborbital flights as payload specialist. This all for the low cost of $12,500. One of the candidates shared his experience:

8-25-2016

Muddy Muggle announced Major League Quidditch and Peterson’s Broomsticks as partners.

8-27-2016

PHOENIX MUDDY MUGGLE CANCELLED – This race was set for July 28-30, 2017 but was called off because of the local concerns of heat index around this time of the Muddy Mortal.

9-7-2016

Muddy Muggle announced they were getting dispute error’s because they were charging under the names: Launch Fitness, Muddy Muggle and FitGeek Events, LLC.

9-7-2016

Muddy Muggle received their first shipment of “Wizard in Training” t-shirts and are $18 for order.

9-8-2016

Muddy Muggle promoted Broomhilde for people to purchase brooms for the 1-mile broom run and said they had ordered a Nimbus 2000 ($58)

9-9-2016

Muddy Muggle started looking for vendors.

9-22-2016

Muddy Muggle announced the partnership with Outside Interactive.

9-28-2016

Muddy Muggle announced they were finally on Twitter (tweeting as @themuddymuggle) #MuddyMuggle

10-05-2016

Muddy Muggle showed some swag bag goodies.

10-12-2016

Muddy Muggle announced Yelp as a sponsor and partnership with Road Runner Sports in Seattle as the packet pick-up location and special lead-up events.

10-14-2016

Muddy Muggle shared a link from Obstacle Racing Media of their promotion of 10% off registration.

10-20-2016

Muddy Muggle announced a partnership with Alivan’s Master Wandmakers and they will be making the custom rosewood wands for Patronus Pass Holders.

10-28-2016

Rachel Huey Guined posted on Facebook the new plane they just bought. There is more information on the plane on 12/13/2016.

11-3-2016

Muddy Mortal announced ArcAttack as live entertainment for Dallas event.

11-6-2016

Muddy Mortal announced a special exhibition area to be added to the festival highlighting the “magic of science” and designed to educate and inspire children on health/fitness, virtual/augmented reality, and the “maker” movement.

11-7-2016

Muddy Mortal announced an official event app under development and would be in the app store and google play soon.

11-13-2016

Muddy Muggle started taking pre-orders for signature mud splat visors.

11-14-2016

Muddy Mortal announced they have collected $654 for Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust. They were giving 15% off regular registration and donating 15% of all sales to the charity.

11-16-2016

Muddy Mortal announced they have collected $1,444.65 for Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust. They were giving 15% off regular registration and donating 15% of all sales to the charity.

11-18-2016

Muddy Mortal announced they have collected $1,617 for Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust.

11-21-2016

Muddy Mortal announced they are looking for interns.

11-23-2016

An announcement that they raised $2,164.20 for Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust. (I have since contacted this charity and they do not have a record of receiving a donation from Muddy Mortal)

11-28-2016

An announcement that the Guined’s spoke to Warner Brothers Entertainment and had to change the name from “Muddy Muggle” to “Muddy Mortal”. The reasoning behind it was that they would have not been able to trademark the name “muggle”.

11-28-2016

Muddy Mortal announced they were looking for people experienced with social media management, event planning, marketing, obstacle course construction or event logistics.

11-29-2016

An announcement went out to hire ambassadors to help build their brand.

12-13-2016

A 1964 Cessna 150D plane was registered to Jamie R. Guined. Like planes sale for around $14,000-$$18,000.

12-19-2016

We finally got to see some of the swag items in the "12 Days of Magic" they were offering.

12-24-2016

Brand Ambassador program goes live. They were searching for 100 Role Mortals.

12-27-2017

7 Days of giveaways.

12-27-2017

18 DIY wands up for sale.

1-9-2017

Muddy Mortal Transformation Challenge started. This was a 12 week healthy living and fitness program. Challenge participants must also have a muddy mortal ticket and get a “Be The Magic” wristband. Five categories with five champions. 1^st place was $1,000, reimbursement of registration fees, free 2018 entry, Muddy Mortal brand gear bundle. 2^nd place $500 cash plus all of 1^st prizes. 3^rd place was $250 plus 1^st prizes. There will also be weekly giveaways.

No winners were posted for this challenge but a few people did get the weekly giveaways promised.

1-13-2017

Muddy Mortal "hand-carved wands".

1-15-2017

Muddy Mortal "hand-carved wands".

1-29-2017

Muddy Mortal offered the first 20 people "hand-carved wands".

2-3-2017

Muddy Mortal announced Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Charities of Seattle/Western Washington will be a charity partner for Seattle and all Ronald McDonald House Families will have free festival admission.

3-14-2017

Rachel Huey Guined posted “Who builds custom houses and does a good job?”

3-16-2017

29 people were listed as the 2017 Role Mortal Brand Ambassadors.

3-20-2017

Muddy Mortal announced that the Muddy Mortal events would be live streamed.

4-20-2017

Muddy Mortal offered 100 custom rosewood and crafted wands for $25. Also, said that a large shipment of “registration promotion perks (MIY and Hart Wands, wizard hats), a large shipment just went out today and another scheduled for tomorrow.”

4-22-2017

An announcement that Muddy Mortal will donate 10% of all sales for the weekend to The Nature Conservancy. 20% off Muddy Mortal registration.

4-23-2017

Muddy Mortal announced Wlfshager Hexenbrut Walpurgis was the live entertainment for Dallas event.

5-15-2017

DALLAS MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for May 19-21, 2017 but was “postponed” for “major supplier issue”. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 2.4k going and 11k interested. The ticket page also showed this as a sold out event. The venue is Skyline Ranch and Event Centers. Skyline did confirm for the rescheduled date of October 27, 2017 (same date as the Georgia event). The online rental agreement states this venue costs around $10,000. A Dallas 2017 Muddy Mortal Refund Claim form was posted and allowed claims to be submitted until May 22, 2017.

Skyline Ranch has their contract listed online which tells you the price to hold an event.

After this, ticket holders started calling their venues and finding out that they were not secured. Muddy Mortal quickly changed all Facebook Event pages to show NO venues listed, only city and state.

Any questions or comments on the event pages were quickly deleted.

5-16-2017

Rachel Guined posted in Vendors in Georgia Facebook as the COO of FitGeek Events, LLC asking for vendors for the Georgia Muddy Mortal on October 27-29 at Georgia International Horse Park. Contact number list for Jamie was (229) 406-4748. Fee listed was $315-$400.

5-29-2017

Ticket holders found out that there was no venue for the next event in Seattle.

5-30-2017

Muddy Mortal Twitter page turned to protected and could only be viewed by confirmed followers.

I also heard back from Muddy Mortal to my email asking for a comment concerning what happened in Dallas. I was thinking of writing a blog on the issue.

6-6-2017

SEATTLE MUDDY MORTAL CANECLLED – This race was set for June 16-18, 2017 but was “postponed” for “venue NOT secured.” At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 2.3k going and 11k interested.

6-27-2017

SOCAL MUDDY MORTAL - The Galway Downs website posted the following message: “Please be advised that the Muddy Mortal is not being held at Galway Downs. We have no information about this event, but understand that it was previously advertised as being held at Galway Downs. This information was incorrect.”

7-14-2017

SOCAL MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for July 14-16, 2017 but was “postponed” for “very low registration”. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 472 going and 1.9k interested.

News report from ABC 10 - Wizard-themed 5K mud runs abruptly canceled

7-28-2017

FLAGSTAFF MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for July 28-30, 2017 but was “postponed” for “very low registration”.

8-8-2017

Muddy Mortal Facebook page was deleted and all event pages gone. The website posted they are filing for bankruptcy.

8-15-2017

Muddy Mortal changed their Facebook page notice to take out bankruptcy.

The difference between the two notices.

8-11-2017

DENVER MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for August 11-13, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. It was to be held at Colorado Off Road Extreme.

News story by ORM: Muddy Mortal Cancels

News story by CBS Denver: Harry Potter-Style Race Cancelled Amid Scam Concerns

NEW JERSEY MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for August 25-27, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 399 going.

News story from 4 New York: Harry Potter Event Cancelled Without Refunds

VIRGINIA MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for September 8-10, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 704 going. It was to be held at Chesapeake City Park.

News report from 10 On Your Side Wavy - Setbacks to Blame for 5k Abruptly Canceling in Chesapeake

MINNEASPOLIS MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for September 22-24, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 802 going.

CHICAGO MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for October 6-8, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 528 going.

ATLANTA MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for October 27-29 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 922 going and 4.7k interested. It was to be held at Georgia International Horse Park and Tonks and the Aurors were the live entertainment scheduled.

TORONTO MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for November 11-13, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 136 going.

ORLANDO MUDDY MORTAL CANCELLED – This race was set for December 1-3, 2017 but the company filed for bankruptcy. At the time of the event, the Facebook Event page showed 188 going.