Don’t let the dirt intimidate you – we’ll help you navigate through all the obstacles!
- Lose the new shoes – A mud run is not the best time to wear your beautiful brand new shoes, since they definitely won’t look the same afterwards. Sacrifice an older pair, you’ll be glad you did.
- Bag it up – You’ll want to bring a nice big trash bag to put all of your muddy clothes in after the race, it’ll make cleanup a whole lot easier.
- Don’t forget your undies – Don’t pull a rookie mistake like I did and bring a full change of clothes, minus the most vital items! Make sure your bag is all packed up with your essentials the night before so that your race morning is a breeze.
- Phone a friend – The best way to hit the course is with a bunch of your buddies. Join or form a team and bring everyone along for a fun-filled day!
- Ask the audience – If you end up not being part of a team, you’ll still have the support of everyone else on the course – there are always plenty of people willing to lend a helping hand or two to boost you over that wall. Make some new friends!
- Don’t watch the clock – If it’s your first mud run, this isn’t the time to be worrying about setting a PR. Take as long as you need to in order to have FUN at each obstacle and help out your teammates!
- Be prepared to be unprepared – There will be obstacles that you may not have had any prior training for (spear throw, I’m looking at you), but don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world if you can’t do an obstacle, and at least you’ll know what to expect next time.
- Victory lap – There are always cool things to check out after the finish line, so be sure to stick around for the swag, the camaraderie, and maybe even a celebratory beer!
- Foam rollers are your friends – Some soreness the next day is totally normal – check out some of our favorite post-workout exercises to help ease the burn.
- Have fun! – Enjoy every moment and the feeling of triumphant awesomeness that comes with conquering your first mud run. Here’s to many more!
About the Author: Sarah Flanagan is Client Experience Manager at Events.com. A recent transplant to San Diego, she immediately plunged into the fascinating world of 5Ks and yoga. Besides her passion for technology, in her free time she’s an avid crafter, gamer, reader, crossword puzzler, and cheese maker (yes really). The only thing that changes more often than her interests is her hair color. Follow her on Twitter – @sarahlflanagan
Interested in planning a mud run or any type of running event? Start planning your next running event on Events.com.
