How to train for a mud run?

Posts: 339
2/8/13 12:58 P

I ran in a mud run last summer. From my experience I would say hills. Run up and down as much as you can. All the hills made the run feel much longer than a 5K. It was the most exhausting part of the entire thing.

Pounds lost: 13.2

0 12.25 24.5 36.75

49

Posts: 294
2/8/13 11:58 A

In addition to weights & cardio, i'd go a playground with monkey bars / jungle gym and climb over it, and crawl under it, since the course is similar:
www.godirtygirl.com/about/
I'd also practice running on uneven surfaces, if that's not something you're skilled at.

SparkPoints: (9,034)
Fitness Minutes: (4,647)
Posts: 268
2/8/13 11:45 A

No, I didn't do a girl's run, LOL

Down here in Florida the mud run was a multi-day team event covering almost 3 miles. Teams of 8 had to have at least 3 women on them. There were many teams that were all women. Day 2 had a men's race and a women's race.

More than 1000 entrants in each race, unfortunately they (the organizers) didn't consider how much parking was going to be required or the traffic conditions. Many people who signed up were still stuck on the highway 4 miles away when the races finished, and that was after they delayed the start of the event more than 2 hours so more people could get to the starting line.

I don't think anyone had any idea how popular this event was going to be.



Edited by: SAILOR64 at: 2/8/2013 (11:46)

May Minutes: 0

0 750 1500 2250

3000

Posts: 528
2/8/13 9:59 A

Sounds fun!

Pounds lost: 20.0

0 16.25 32.5 48.75

65

SparkPoints: (30,073)
Fitness Minutes: (12,611)
Posts: 3,870
2/8/13 9:50 A

Sailor - you did a girls mud run? Awesome :)

Smart assiness aside, a good generalized strength program should have you doing barbell squats which is going to give you very strong legs. Super awesome for powering through mud. Also, knocking people over :)

current weight: 5.0  over

10 5 0 -5

-10

SparkPoints: (9,034)
Fitness Minutes: (4,647)
Posts: 268
2/8/13 9:37 A

Jessie,

Brewmaster is right, for this event cardio is king, but you need really strong legs for this event. The mud is deep, sometimes up to your waist, and can be very thick like muddy clay. This event is not like running through a mud puddle, it's like running through a mud bog (think monster truck racing through mud us to it's axles).

With that in mind, I suggest an aggressive strength training regimen that focuses on quads and hamstrings.

Have fun. It was a blast when we did it.

May Minutes: 0

0 750 1500 2250

3000

SparkPoints: (30,073)
Fitness Minutes: (12,611)
Posts: 3,870
2/8/13 8:32 A

Unfortunately they do not list the obstacles on their website, but based on the pictures I found, it looks pretty much the same as the warrior dash (except for women only). If that's the case, cardio is king. The obstacles aren't going to require a lot of strength to overcome. I doubt there is any specific training that is going to make a big difference other than cardio.

With that being said, however, I'd recommend a generalized strength training program regardless. Strong is always an asset.

current weight: 5.0  over

10 5 0 -5

-10

Posts: 158
2/8/13 8:15 A

This years fitness goal for myself is a mud run :) Looks like I'll be doing a Dirty Girl run 5/4 or 5/5. any suggestions on how to train for it? I plan on re-doing the C25K but am concerned about the obsticals. I do have access to a gym! Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can give me!

current weight: 180.0

210 201.25 192.5 183.75

175