The 1st Annual Dirty Dash

Waterloo, July 18^th

This was the most fun race I think I have ever done! There’s something about arriving at a race with a 40 foot long, foot and a half deep pit of mud waiting for you that just tells you that this is not going to be any normal race.

This race is part of the Waterloo Running Series and was very well organized. From the people directing traffic when you arrived at Bechtel Park, to the course marshals, to the guy with the hose at the end of the race, everyone was very helpful and there to make sure the runner’s had a great race.  This was the first running of this race and I think it will become a huge event in years to come.

Prizes were awarded to those with the best costume. I’m not sure who won it, but I would have given it to the 2 girls dressed as a bride and her maid of honour, complete with bouquets.

There was a 4k or 8k option, with the 8k being two laps of the 4k. There was also a 1k kids run after the race for the little ones who really just wanted to play in the mud.  The course took us all through Bechtel Park, through some grassy fields and double track forest trails. I did not know there were 2 river crossings in the race, so that added a surprise element to the race. The first time through the first river, there was a bit of a bottle neck because it was a single file exit, where they had someone helping people out of the water. This was not a race one did for time. I spent the wait in the water (up to my knees, so much for those shoes!) talking to two very nice ladies who were doing their first trail run ever. Out of the water and up muddy incline back to the path. About another 750 meters later was another river crossing. This one was much smaller and there was no back-up as the pack had spread out due to the wait at the first river. Back to regular trails and then up the big hill at the end.  Now, hills while trail running are hard enough by themselves without anything to make them slippery.  The race directors decided to make it slightly more challenging, they had brought over a hose and had water running down the hill so just at the top where it’s a little bit steeper, it was completely muddy and slippery. Fun times!  After slipping up this hill, you run a little further before you can hear the crowd cheering and laughing. For those doing the 4k loop, the last stretch was coming up.   For those doing 8k, you got to run past the mud and watch everyone getting suctioned into the mud.

The second loop of the course was a little easier since you knew what to expect. Both river crossings were much easier to get through because there were less people. The exit for the first river crossing had been moved a little because the original exit site was very slippery and the people helping the runner’s out were having trouble keeping their positions while helping people out.

Coming up to the mud pit there were people telling you to take your shoes off, very handy advice. The first few people who entered the pit lost their shoes in the mud. There were many pairs of shoes lining the entry to the pit. There were strings of flags over the pit which you had to go under. The finish line was at the end of the pit and the only way to cross it was to go through the mud. You don’t sign up for something called “The Dirty Dash” and not expect to get dirty! The first few steps weren’t bad, but then you are trying to lift your legs up and through a foot and half of mud! So what do you do? Dive head first under the flags and just enjoy it!  There was someone taking pictures at the end of the race, but since everyone’s race bib was brown, I’m not sure how you are supposed to find your pictures.  Race chips were on your ankle, so the people cutting them off had lots of fun finding and cutting those off.  They were almost as muddy as the people coming out of the pit.

For after the run, they had hoses and showers to help clean up.   I waited to get hosed off because it was faster than the showers. The water was really cold and I had trouble catching my breathe but it was worth it to have most of the mud washed away.

After getting sort of cleaned up, we headed over to the food area. There was the traditional post-race food, such as bagels and bananas, but there was also pizza, grapes, watermelon and barbecued hot dogs. Pretty good food for a small race. There was plenty of space to sit and relax and dry out while watching the kids start and finish their run. By the time we left, we were dry, full and despite the dried mud, smelling pretty good. I still had mud in places that I had never had mud before (I had to take out my belly ring to clean it), but that’s part of the experience. The post-run at home shower took a little longer than normal, just making sure I got it all.

Overall, it was a great day, a well organized run, a fun crowd and a new experience. I encourage everyone to get out and try a mud run. It’s something completely different from a normal run and I’m glad that I took a chance and did it. It makes all the serious runs worth it because this one was about having fun.

For anyone who is interested in doing a Mud Run I offer the following advice: do not wear clothes that you love and do now want to ruin; do not wear shorts with pockets; wear shoes you are not worried about ruining, bring a towel and bag for your dirty clothes; and most of all, bring an open mind and a good attitude!