If you’ve been following along since the beginning, you know that Melanie, I and a few other friends ran in Mud Run last year. We had such a good time that we almost immediately began making plans for the next one.
Fast forward to 2011. The response to the pictures and stories from last year led us to create two teams this year. Because the Mud Run changed the categories, we opted for a five-man competitive team and a five-woman competitive team.
Once we arrived at the course, we found out that the categories weren’t the only things that had changed. In fact, just about every aspect of the race this year was improved: better parking, better start/finish area, better course, better spectator consideration, better food and better organization.
They still need to work on orientation/check-in. We wandered around for a while before we figured out where to go. The equestrian center is a large piece of property that can easily swallow several thousand people in its wooded bowels. This year they had changing tents (no more hunkering down behind your car after the race) but they were located halfway between anywhere useful. If they really want the community to get behind this event they need to do even more to make it spectator friendly. I would suggest a short dry spectator trail to get them to the key points of interest along the course. I’d also give them a map. Finally, they need better results reporting. At any other race I’ve ever participated in you get the results almost in real time. As of the time of this posting, I still don’t have our official time or a listing of the top finishers.
That is the end of my belly aching. Everything else was really great. We even got free Bubba Burgers at the end of the run. Yum!
As for the race itself, it was comparable to last year but wasn’t as hot out of the water, not as cold in the water, the sticky mud was much shallower and the course was a little easier. My trusty $13 boots came through the race just fine again (although I’m noticing a small amount of upper and sole separation on the right one). Unfortunately, running in those things hurts my feet. I noticed the next day that my feet were a little swollen and the bottoms hurt a little. I also got shin splints on my right leg. I think both of these are directly related to the lack of padding in my boots. I’ll heal up just fine I’m sure and it is a small price to pay to have this much fun.
On a side note about the boots, we were not allowed to duct tape our boots closed as we said we would last year (see 2010 post). It turned out to be a non-issue. There wasn’t gravel in the water or mud pits so none of us ended up getting junk stuck inside our boots this year.
We will not be doing the Donna Breast Cancer Marathon next year so that means we’ll be able to dedicate time to training specifically for this race. The advice I got last year is still good for this year: run stairs. I think that is the best thing you can do to get ready for this event.
I can hardly wait for next year.
The following pictures are copyright Sam Moore (Thank you so much for doing this!) and are used here with the artist’s permission. This is not the entire course but gives a good overall impression.
Jason Patz 
Just great! I loved your post!
I think you would love watching this. The only problem you’d have is that Wren would want to run the course.
Jason!
I’ve enjoyed your posts on The Original Mud Run!
How can I get permission to use one of your group’s “after” photos for the April Mud Run newsletter????
Hi Cherilyn,
Thank you very much for asking before you used the image. I’ll get a hold of the photographer, but I don’t think there will be a problem.
You can email me at the address given in the “contact” section at the top of the blog to work out any details (I don’t want to list it here since spambots love to scoop those things up).
Enjoyed your write-up. Looks like ya’ll had a fantastic time and an all around great day!
Love the pics….the power of muddy goo! It looks like you all had a blast and what a great cause!!!! Thanks for sharing! Love ya.
Hi… wow.. I have never heard of this Mudd Run before… I am kinda new to all this even tho I was diagnosed 6 years ago. I am FINALLY walking again and can now go back to work, my mustles are really in bad shape and I ALWAYS was very physically fit till I got sick. Anyway, I have been looking for something to encourage me that interested me to get back out there. I am working at the gym and have alot of work left but by next year at this time… my goal is to do this mudd run in SLC….. Do you have it every year there? I hope so!!! I found something I want to do where I can have a goal for it…. Thank you!!!!
What a great goal to have! I think you’ll have a blast if you train (which it sounds like you are going to do). Check back in the coming weeks (or sign up for email notification on the right-hand side of the page or Twitter or Facebook notification also on the right-hand side of the page). I’m trying to stick to a schedule of having new articles every Tuesday for the next good while. Two that are almosted finished are how to train for the Mud Run and what to wear for the Mud Run. Both will probably be helpful to you.
Yes. The Mud Run is every year. It is put on by a national organization that travels to different locations around the country. You can see their website here: http://theoriginalmudrun.com/
The MS Society’s more detailed page for your local event is here: http://tinyurl.com/3sftsdu
Good luck!