Thousands of people are participating in a 10-mile obstacle course this weekend at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration, over the concerns of local preservationists.

Some 8,000 people are participating in the Tough Mudder event, which includes racing through mud, up walls and through ice water. Preservationists and local historians criticized the county's decision to allow the event at the site, which includes several historic structures.

Tough Mudder organizers say they are taking extra precautions to make sure they do not ruin the village's property.

"We worked with the parks department to make sure the course route and obstacles aren't going to disrupt any historical or sensitive areas and we are taking precautionary measures to make sure we leave the site as we found it," says event director Hilary May.

Event organizers say they agreed to do a full cleanup of the property because they want the option to come back next year.

Saturday's event began at 8 a.m. A second Tough Mudder is scheduled for Sunday morning.