It is no secret that stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things can turn out to create some of the most worthwhile, memorable experiences in life. This summer, a close friend of mine and I decided to try to find a mud run or “muddy princess” obstacle course in our area. For me, someone who had always done regular 5K races as well as many CrossFit competitions, the sound of trying out a mud run seemed different, exciting, and interesting but also quite scary.
I think I was more afraid of the idea of getting all dirty and icky, not of actually doing hard work. Would there somehow, at some point, be worms on me?! Or little gangly-legged creatures in the water?! Could I slip and get hurt?! Would I be all squishy, messy, and uncomfortable? Would I get mud in my eyes?! Realizing the answer to all of these questions was probably a resounding yes. My princess self did what instinctively I knew was right all along: I said, “Let’s get dirrrtttyyyy!” and registered. After completing the race and having an absolute blast (sans the gangly-legged creatures, or at least, I believe without them), I have some tips for anyone else who ventures into the mud run arena:
Compete with a friend or group of friends.
The more, the merrier! More laughs, more giggles, and more arms to assist if you get stuck in a deep pit of muddy water and need help climbing the rope! I know that personally, I loved having my bestie by my side as we encouraged each other and laughed while crawling under muddy fencing, climbing muddy walls, wading through the murky waters and tackling each crazy fun obstacle.
You can even get matching tanks or shirts to wear on race day because, hey, that’s extra fun. Our tanks said, “That’s a Terrible Idea: Hold My Drink!” It was great being silly as we challenged ourselves with a totally different type of event.
Dress with caution.
You will want to wear shoes and clothing that are functional and race-capable (think clothing that has dry wicking or is not too loose, as you don’t want it to become heavy and weigh you down after getting wet), but also items you don’t mind potentially getting ruined. You might be able to salvage your attire and/or shoes after gallivanting around the muddy trails, but there is a strong chance some of it will be lost to the mud gods. Many times, these events recommend donating your shoes post-race; they clean them up for you and give them to those in need.
At the race I competed at, some people were wearing regular sneakers, some had water shoes on, and others even had cleats. Personally, I wore a pair of my old Under Armour running shoes, and those worked out great for me. Choose what is best for you, as long as they fit well and aren’t at risk of being lost in the water (we saw a few random shoes just floating around).
Be prepared.
Don’t forget to pack lots of bottled water, pre and post-race snacks, sunscreen, a towel (or three), baby wipes, extra clothes, and other toiletries to clean yourself up post-race. TMI alert: You will likely have mud in all of your bits and pieces. Thankfully, they will have a platform of outdoor showers (not private) for you to rinse off at, so that will be the first stop post-race for sure to de-muddify yourself!
Close your eyes…or wear goggles?
At the Hollis Adams Mud Run event I completed, the last obstacle involved a giant slide that led into an enormous pit of water and mud. I truly thought I closed my eyes when I went under the muddy water, but apparently, on the way down or the way up, I somehow got a surge of that stuff right into my eyes and contact lenses. My eyes were burning SO badly that I couldn’t even see to get out of the pit. It made for some interesting videos and pictures, that’s for sure.
Thankfully, volunteers ultimately shot the water from the fire hoses my way, and I was able to stumble somewhat blindly to the showers to rinse off fully. My eyes burned the rest of the day, and I had to take my lenses out and wear my glasses. So, at the next mud run I do, I’ll be sure to be more careful or perhaps wear goggles for that last obstacle!
Relax, and have fun.
The beauty of mud races like the one I did for Hollis Adams is they usually support a good cause. So it’s a win-win in that you get to have fun with fitness, but you are also helping those in need.
Also, if a race like this seems daunting, try to relax and stay in a positive mindset that you CAN do it. There are many scaling options for those who need some assistance with obstacles (and heck, you can even go around any obstacles you are not comfortable with). Contrarily, there are also ways to ramp up the course if you like things a little more advanced. I love that anybody can participate and challenge themselves in any way they would like at these events! No matter how you approach the mud run, whether you walk, run, crawl, dodge, dive, dip, or duck…it will undoubtedly be dirty, it will be awesome, and you will create lasting memories.