How Fast Can You Run While Carrying A Greased Up Codfish? Then Milbridge Has An Event For You!

It's been a Milbridge tradition since 1984, when someone had the ingenious idea to don firefighting gear, grease up a giant fish, and race up and down a field with it.

(How is this not a thing in every town? Because it should be!)

The Codfish Relay is just one part of the 4-day event known as Milbridge Days, which include a parade, car show, lobster cookout and touch tank (just to name a few). This year's theme: The Wizard Of Oz.

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While we're not quite sure how the cod will fit in with this year's theme (perhaps instead of flying monkeys, flying codfish?) the Milbridge Days events kick off on Thursday, July 25th, with the Codfish Relay taking place on Saturday, July 27th at 2:30 PM.

For those wondering exactly what takes place during this Codfish Relay, writer John Walters wrote this description in his 1996 article:

"...four teammates, two at each end of a 30-yard
stretch of meadow; one set of firefighter's turnout gear, which
includes hip boots, a yellow slicker, a sou'wester and gloves;
and one cod, greased in sardine--not cod-liver--oil and weighing
about 20 pounds. The person running the first leg dons his or
her gear, grabs the fish and sprints to runner number 2. There
the first runner hands off the cod, removes the firefighter's
garb, retrieves the cod as teammate dons gear and then returns
it. "

We should add that at the same time that the teams are running the field with their fish, the participants are also being sprayed by a firehouse...because the challenge of running with a greased up codfish was not enough for folks in Milbridge.

According to the Milbridge Days Event Page, the Codfish Relay is both for kids and for adults!

"*Adult (age 13+) and Kid competition groups.

*Adult team winners will receive $200 and kids team winners will receive $100!

*Teams only need 4 people, and all ages are welcome!

*Please bring gear for your team if you can! (Gloves, Rain Hat with Chin Strap, Fisherman’s Boots, Rain Slicker/Coat)."

This year's event will be hosted by Troy and Michelle Beal.

If you feel like you want to try your hand at a slippery fish run, then get a team together and sign up here.