Mud Runs Challenge Weekend Warriors

This summer, 55-year-old Craig Szachta joined more than 10,000 runners to compete in the Warrior Dash in Mt. Morris, Mich. The 5K race included some unusual obstacles: a line of old cars, a pond filled with logs, a cargo net, a rock wall, a tunnel of flames and a sinking mud pit.

"It wasn't like running the Boston Marathon," says Szachta, a plant manager at a pipe fabrication company in Clinton Township, Mich. "But it was very challenging.

"The whole atmosphere was really lighthearted. People were helping each other through the obstacles rather than just competing to win. It was a beautiful day, there was a band playing, there were beer tents and all the turkey drumsticks you wanted. It was a lot of fun."

Szachta says he's always looking for ways to spice up his daily workouts. He and other 40-plus athletes are finding the challenges they crave in new races that feature running along with obstacles Mud runs are popping up all across the country.

More than 37 percent of participants at Warrior Dash events are over 40, according to Red Frog Events, the organization behind the races. At the Columbia Muddy Buddy, a similar race held in 16 cities across the United States, more than 60 percent of participants are between 30 and 45, says founder Bob Babbitt.

"The appeal is simple: It's fun and different," Babbitt says. "A lot of folks have been participating in half-marathons, marathons and triathlons, along with 5Ks and 10Ks for years. [Mud races] give people the opportunity to use their fitness from running and weight training and spin classes to have a great time. Most endurance events are all about you and your time. Mud-related events are about you, your buddies, costumes, mud pits, funny names, beer gardens and having a great time."

While many mud events are timed, most of the participants aren't in it for the results, Babbitt says. "It allows people to dress funny, get dirty and be a kid again. What could be better than that?"

Babbitt says he's had college professors ask him, upon finishing the race, if they can go back through the mud pit again. "While they're certainly a good workout, mud events are less about winning and more about smiling and laughing," he says.

And the runs might be addictive: Within two weeks of completing his first extreme run, Szachta had already registered for next year's event.

SecondAct asks: Have you participated in a mud run or obstacle race? Share your experience in the comments section.

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