Mud Runs

The latest rage in racing are all the mud/adventure runs.  Overall, these have grown out of fitness industry's newest theme of functionality training.  The races have their roots in military type training in which recruits going through basic training or boot camp would have to complete obstacle courses such as rope climbs, scaling walls, crawling through mud etc.  The courses were not only tests of physical and mental strength but also were intended to imitate battle conditions.  Conventional training such as pushups, situps and road running do get people in shape but they lack that realistic edge/spark of a full blown obstacle course which combines a bunch of different skills.

No surprise the original civilianized mud or obstacle runs required the participants to wear BDU style pants and combat boots.  In today's corporate version people wear your typical runner's gear or sometimes bizarre costumes and stupid Fred Flinstone hats (see below).  The races do have some fun looking obstacles like slides and jumping over flames.  Not surprisingly a lot of the finishers get to drink beer and all kinds of merriment following the race, something I'm sure military participants would have enjoyed.

Be sure to note the each of the races has you fill out a waiver if you get injured during the race.  I'd expect a lot of rolled ankles.  Not to be a downer but there was a death during one of these events in Texas in 2012.

Here's a couple of links to a few of these races in SE Nebraska.  If you know of any other mud runs you can post a link to the race as a comment.

Warrior Dash
Location: Tekamah, NE
Date: June 8, 9 2013
Fee: $55-$80
http://www.warriordash.com/register.php?loc=Nebraska&yr=2013

Spartan Race
Location: Lincoln, NE (Abbott Sports Complex)
Date: October 12, 2013
Fee: $60-$100
http://www.spartanrace.com/nebraska-obstacle-racing-spartan-sprint-2013.html

5k the Hard Way
Location: Fremont, NE
Date: April 20, 2013
Fee: $45
http://5kthehardway.com/

NSC Mud Run
Location: Lincoln, NE (Lancaster Event Center)
Date: August 24, 2013
Fee: $35-50
http://www.nscevents.com/index.php?module=cms&page=15

Said Hats