After winning the mud run, I realized I’d gotten it all wrong — this was a “fun run” first and foremost; the real winners were the men and women dressed up, laughing, rolling in mud, and having way more of a good time than me.
Here are a few tips I offer for anyone else heading to a mud run for the first time. Don’t forget your costume and a sense of humor as the mud oozes into your shoes and gets between your toes. —Sean McCoy
1) Define Winning — I’ve run half, full and ultra marathons and some insane ultra races in which many people consider finishing a great goal. I ran the mud run to cross the finish line first and I did, but I wasn’t the winner. I think that was the guy who only did two of the three laps and wandered around the finish line looking like the creature from the lost lagoon in an inch-thick coat of mud.
2) Bring Friends — If your definition of winning means “more fun” then run with a crew. It’s hard to do the Can-Can alone.
3) Get Muddy — I feel like I did OK on this one and was pretty well covered from head to toe by the end of the race. Yet others did much, much better. I’d say I finished in the middle of the pack, mud-coverage wise. This is a mud run, so revel in it. Otherwise, you’re just running a 5K!
4) Close Your Eyes — This might sound obvious, but I made a big mistake in my first dive into a mud pit by not closing my eyes tightly. The gritty, thick mud coated my contact lenses and I ran nearly blind for close to a half-mile. Whether a runner’s goal is to have fun, wear the best costume or cross the finish line first, mud in your eye won’t help the cause.
5) Careful In The Pit — Yes, mud is a big part of the fun, but it can hide some dangerous conditions, so tread lightly. Diving hard into a mud pit led to lots of skinned knees and elbows because of the hard bottom of the pit at the GoPro Games. I was among the afflicted with bloody knees.
6) Gear Up — No, this isn’t a serious race, but mud runs require gear, and in this situation don’t worry about tech specs. Get creative with headwear (tiaras seem popular) and accessories (who doesn’t love a cape?). A banana hammock might make some folks nervous, but from what I’ve learned, in a mud run, it’s hard to take the costume too far.
I crossed the finish line first in my mud run. But next time I know I’ll get closer to that illusive “win” with a quick trip to a thrift shop for dazzling clothes. I’ll sport a devil-may-care attitude and, hopefully, cause a stir with a group of rowdy friends because, from what I saw, that’s what it’s all about.
—Sean McCoy is based in Denver.
