They jogged through mud, slogged through ice water and ran through electrified wires.
More than 5,000 men and women came in March from all over the southeast, and even a few from out of the country, to take part in the obstacle course run called Tough Mudder.
The estimated economic impact to Santa RosaCounty was $6.1 million.
That's why Santa Rosa County commissioners have approved two measures to improve their chances of hosting Tough Mudder again in 2016.
The county has approved a special permit allowing alcohol consumption and sales on Sundays for the event and has set aside $110,000 in Tourist Development Council funds to help promote Tough Mudder.
“The county has not made that kind of commitment before," said Kyle Holley, spokesperson for the Ates Family Ranch, which hosted the Tough Mudder last year.
"It’s as a result of better quality planning (by) TDC members and (Director Julie Morgan)," he said. "It’s a strong leadership move in Northwest Florida for the county to invest at this level, and solid evidence that our Commission and TDC are focused on building the brand, Florida’s Playground."
According to Shannon Ogletree, the SRC Economic Development Director, the 2016 event will bring an estimated 18,000 individuals to the event, with approximately 14,000 staying in Santa RosaCounty lodging facilities.
Those numbers translate into a projected tax impact of nearly $250,000, Ogletree said.
Tough Mudder's 2015 debut event in Santa RosaCounty was a single-day event.
But Tough Mudder normally is held over a two-day span. Those who complete the course are greeted with a beer at the finish line. Alcohol is also sold during both days of the event.
And Santa RosaCounty's restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Sundays on the mainland were a potential sticking point in talks with the event organizers.
“(Tough Mudder) said after last year’s big success over one day, they said they would probably not return to Santa Rosa County … unless we had a two-day event," said Commission Chairman Don Salter.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: County entices Tough Mudder's return