Runners jump over a hurdle of fire toward the end of a Warrior Dash event last year. The popular extreme-running tour will make its first-ever stop in Alabama on October 6, as they hold a race at The Hitchin’ Post in Kimberly, so far, more than 7,500 runners have registered.

The first Alabama visit of the Warrior Dash series of extreme races is shaping up to be a success, if pre-registration numbers are any indication.

As of Tuesday, more than 7,500 runners had registered and fewer than 500 spaces remained open for the Oct. 6 event, which will be held at The Hitchin’ Post on the outskirts of Kimberly.

Race director Matt Robinson said that if there’s enough demand closer to the race date, another “wave” for 500 runners may be added to the afternoon schedule.

“The response to this has been really great, especially for the first time here,” Robinson said.

It’s no wonder that Ramona Harris of The Hitchin’ Post is a little overwhelmed at what is about to overtake her family’s farm and stable operation.

“I can’t comprehend it. My brain can’t process that many people,” Harris said. “I knew it was going to be big, because I have friends that have been to these out of state. But I had no clue as to how big this is going to be.”

The event is produced by Red Frog Events of Chicago, which handles the management and nearly all of the setup. Their crews will arrive in Kimberly the week before the race, using local contractors to set up the various obstacles along the course.

Red Frog contractors also operate most of the concessions, which might have cut Harris’ farm out of some revenue. However, she renegotiated with the organizers to be able to serve food that is specific to the area, and doesn’t compete with Red Frog’s offerings.

“They have a lot of ‘non-Alabama-friendly’ foods like turkey legs and veggie burgers,” Harris said. “We raise cattle here, so we’re going to have beef. We ordered 2,000 steaks, and we’re going to sell steak sandwiches and sweet tea. That’s about as specific to our little area as you can get.”

(Turkey legs are a Warrior Dash tradition.)

The Warrior Dash series bills itself as the biggest running series in the world, with 55 race sites in the United States, Canada and Australia. Many of those sites host two days of running and revelry.

Part athletic event and part outdoor rock festival, Warrior Dash began as a single race at Joliet, Ill., in 2009. It spread to 11 races the next year and more than 30 in 2011.

In total, somewhere around a million people ran in the races, with a like number attending as spectators, during the 2011 circuit. About half again as many are expected this year.

A number of participants from central Alabama have taken part in the Georgia race this past May, and will compete in this year’s Tennessee stop near Nashville on Sept. 22.

The course itself measures about five kilometers or a little more than three miles, roughly the same as a high school varsity cross country course. Along the way, runners encounter 12 extreme obstacles, including hurdling over fire barriers, squirming through mud pits and climbing cargo nets.

Runners who finish the course get a medal plus a free beer. Awards are also given to the overall male and female top finishers, plus several age group divisions.

Various bands will perform on stages throughout the day.

So far, the Alabama race is only set for this year, and isn’t yet on the 2013 schedule. Harris hopes the success here will convince the tour to return.

“Historically they like to book the same venues year after year. If participation and support is good, they’ll come back,” she said.

Organizers told Harris that the day’s events typically wind down around dusk, but she said that may be wrapping things up a little early.

“There’s a big party crowd in north Jefferson that may want to prolong things a bit past dusk,” she said.