For years, if you told someone you were going to "run a race," that person would likely assume that you were gearing up for a marathon or signed up to run a five or 10-kilometer road race. Nowadays, though, another option is available: mud runs. According to an article published last fall by the USA Today, mud runs?also known as "obstacle races"?have seen so much growth in awareness and interest that they are now "more popular than marathons." The USA Today piece focused on a number American obstacle run events, like the "Tough Mudder," the "Spartan Race," and the "Warrior Dash." These races vary substantially in distance?from about three miles to 26 miles, according to the article?but all have a few things in common: obstacles to be cleared, mud to be crawled through, and other impediments you would never find in the midst of a marathon or traditional road race.
What Is Obstacle Racing?
The definition of "obstacle racing" is, as you might expect, fairly self-explanatory. Competitors have to cover a certain distance as fast as they can, racing against opponents who are also working their way toward the finish line. Like any type of running, there is a specific course with a route that racers must follow from start to finish. Unlike traditional cross country or road racing, the course is littered with physical challenges. What are those "physical challenges"? The answer to that question depends on the race, but it's common for racers to have to get through pools of mud, scale walls, crawl under barbed wire, get over rope obstacles, cross sequences of monkey bars, and more. Some races are more extreme with their obstacles, requiring participants to wade or swim through bodies of water or jump over pits of fire.
The aforementioned "Tough Mudder" race plunges participants into pools of ice water, trots them through a muddy field overhung with live electric wires, or demands them to climb a quarter pipe made impossibly slippery with mud and grass. (These particular obstacles are famous, known respectively as Arctic Enema, Electroshock Therapy, and Everest.) Other races move beyond obstacles for certain steps and require racers to handle other physical tests, like carrying heavy objects from point A to point B or throwing spears at targets.
A Note on Obstacle Race Difficulty
Some races borrow obstacles largely from military training while others get more creative and (arguably) dangerous. Bottom line, you can't ever know what to expect from an obstacle race unless you do your homework. So if you are considering becoming a "mud runner," look up races near you and do the research to figure out what obstacles you would have to clear, what the distance requirements for the race are, and other similar factors. Some mud runs are fun for families or groups of friends while others are geared more toward people who do obstacle running professionally or semi-professionally. Figuring out what kind of race you're looking at before you pay any registration fees is an essential step to making sure you don't get in over your head?especially when you are just starting out.As you can see, there is a great deal of variation in what constitutes "obstacle running." Some mud run courses are more straightforward and make running or wading through mud the core challenge of the race, with the obstacles being fewer and further between. Other races have less running involved and are basically just obstacle courses laid out one after another. The races that add physical tests on the top of obstacles resemble athletic decathlons of old.
The Draws of Obstacle Running
We've discussed a lot of the obstacles and layouts that define mud running or obstacle racing, but what are the advantages of getting involved in this particular sport? Why is a sport that is known for its extreme challenges and intensity going mainstream, to the point where obstacle runs now have more participants in the United States than full or half marathons combined? One of the biggest draws of obstacle running is the sheer uniqueness of it. For years, there weren't events like this?at least not for people just looking to sign up for fun.
Now, obstacle racing is becoming more popular, but the novelty of it still hasn't worn off. Particularly for those who get bored with long distance running, mud running offers other stimulators and challenges along the way that can make the race more fun. Another draw of obstacle running is the challenge of it?and the sense of accomplishment participants get from making it to the finish line. Part of the reason that marathons see as many participants as they do is because completing a marathon is one of the most demanding physical tests known to man. Finishing a marathon always takes immense endurance and mental fortitude, and making it all 26.2 miles is a badge of honor for many people. Mud runs are usually shorter than marathons, but they provide intensely grueling tests of their own?to the point where completing a mud run is still often a point of pride. Indeed, the multi-faceted nature of obstacle racing?as well as the challenging nature of the obstacles themselves?makes it a sport that tests your physical fitness in multiple ways.
Endurance, muscular strength, stamina, and mental toughness are all tested between the start line and finish line of a mud run. Active goes as far as to say that, during a mud run, "You'll use muscles you didn't even know existed." That statement alone explains why the activity has become a hit among fitness enthusiasts. There is also a collaborative nature to mud running?and not just if you are participating with friends or family. While some obstacle races are extremely competitive, with prize money and sponsorships on the line, others are more about community and camaraderie. When you're out on the course, don't be surprised if you see other participants helping one another through particularly grueling challenges. In fact, don't be surprised if someone offers you a hand when you're struggling. There's a "no man gets left behind" atmosphere during mud runs that is really cool to witness, and it makes getting to the finish line that much more rewarding. Suffice to say that, if you are looking for a family bonding experience, there's not much in the fitness world that is better than mud running.
What about Color Runs?
Another type of non-traditional running race that has become popular around the world is the color run. Because color runs are increasingly attracting athletes who might otherwise opt for more traditional road races, they tend to get lumped in with mud running and obstacle racing. However, while mud running and obstacle racing are more or less synonyms for the same basic concept, the color run (or The Color Run, rather, since the name is a trademark) is its own beast entirely.
The Color Run is a series of 5K road races that originated in Arizona but has since gained a foothold in many parts of the world. Today, Color Run events are common throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. These events are so popular that they aren't even isolated to large cities anymore. On the contrary, many mid-sized towns and cities now host annual Color Run events. The basic concept of The Color Run is that, as you run the race, you are showered with different colors of powder. (The powder, which is made of corn starch, is completely non-toxic.) Different stations along the course have different colors of powder, so racers become more colorful as they run. By the time you cross the finish line in a Color Run, you are a walking collage of different hues.
Aside from being a non-tradition form of racing, Color Runs don't have almost nothing in common with mud runs and obstacle races. The Color Run uses fairly straightforward 5K road race courses, free of any obstacles or extra physical challenges. These races have no cash prizes and don't even crown winners. However, Color Runs are also popular among family and friend groups and are such spirited, fun events that they have reportedly inspired many people to run their first-ever 5K races.
Which race sounds like the most fun to you? Are you a Color Run fanatic? Are you a fan of the grueling and messy courses that define obstacle racing? Or would you prefer a more traditional form of road racing or cross country? Regardless of which option you choose, make a point this year to get out and sign up for an event that suits your interests!
