If you've never done a mud run before, it's important to understand that they are not a walk in the park. Even the most seasoned runners can hit a snag during these things, & you have to go about your training in a bit of a different way. It's not just about running with these. You have to have great upper body strength, your endurance has to be on point, & you might even have to swim across a lake in your clothes/shoes/socks and then run a mile through an unbeaten path in the woods.
It's not your community's 4th of July 5k.
Crawling to the finish with my boyfriend at the Fugitive Mud Run in September 2012
My Uncle Jim & myself after finishing the Warrior Dash in August 2012
If you're thinking there's no way you could handle one of these, let me assure you that with the right amount of determination and dedication - ANYONE can handle one. Think of it this way: everyone has the potential to be an athlete, but only some people choose to take matters into their own hands. If you sign up for one of these now (yes, the one that is six months away), you will have MORE than enough time to run, lift, and crunch your way into shape.
If you're looking for a mud run in your area, here are a few that are worth considering. Keep in mind that some mud runs (take tough mudder for example) are not exactly for beginners. If you're just getting started with this running thing & you think these look like fun, I'd recommend the following (in order of difficulty). But even the "easiest" one on my list isn't necessarily "easy". No mud run is easy!:
- Fugitive Mud Run ($65 until June 27th) http://www.fugitivemudrun.com/
- Run For Your Lives Zombie Run (Prices range between $67 & $97 depending on the location you choose) http://www.runforyourlives.com/
- Warrior Dash ($50 until December 31st) http://www.warriordash.com/index.php
Training for these runs is also a really nice way to kind of "break up" a normal runner's weekly routine. While you'll still get your normal training runs in there, I like to pair my "short run" days (a 5k) with about an hour of strength work afterwards. Your muscles are nice and warm after you run, so this is a great time to hit the circuit and switch things up a little bit. If you're doing warrior dash, I would also recommend throwing in some swimming into your training since a lot of the obstacles do involve swimming and water. It was definitely one of the more difficult elements of the race last year, and it's something I plan on crushing this time around. Also focus on upper body strength. Pull ups are your friend. When you're in the middle of a 6 ft. lake fully clothed attempting to pull yourself over a wide, slippery, spinning log - you'll thank me.
Some of the more difficult obstacles I've been faced with during these things is climbing a 10 foot wall and then dropping 3/4ths of the way down on the other side (knees = ouch), climbing onto floating blocks in the middle of a lake you can't touch the bottom of, getting out of the water on a 4 ft. muddy slope with no traction, climbing a rope up a wall and then scaling monkey bars on the other side to get back down to land, anything involving a balance beam (so nerve racking!), and crawling through narrow tubes that are buried half in the ground. The fugitive run was also home to the fastest and scariest slip and slide I've ever been on in my life. I swear I hit 30mph head first!
And seriously, you will feel so accomplished after you get a medal hung around your neck after one of these things that you'll never want to take it off. Working towards accomplishing something like this is something that not many people can say they've done. Put your mind to it, set a goal, and get there. The results are more than worth it.
Keep running,
Kelli
