Pick a Race

While both obstacle races and mud runs are similar in that they both involve mud and are run on mostly off-road courses, there is one main difference. Obstacle races have obstacles! Both types of races will usually have natural obstacles such as ravines, ditches, and hills, but obstacle races have man-made obstacles to add difficulty to the course, such as walls, logs, rope climbs, monkey bars, and cargo nets.

Teamwork is highly encouraged and sometimes absolutely necessary in order to traverse obstacles such

as high walls and logs. You can either go with a friend or a group, or make friends along the way. You will notice that even if you don’t know someone, if you are at an obstacle all together, most people will offer to help and then you can stay and help them. These events, especially obstacle races, are all about teamwork and helping each other.

Father and son Cody and Kurt at a Tough Mudder race.

The first step is to choose which type of race you’d like to run. Most races have varying distances, so you can pick a distance that’s right for you. Below are links to some of the major obstacle races and mud runs, but you can also find other local races using an internet search, your local run club(s), or active.com as resources.

Here are some of the larger national races that are well-established that you can look at to get a general idea of what these races are like:

Spartan Race
Tough Mudder
Warrior Dash
MuckFest
Active.com

Above photo: Kurt and Cody, father and son
at a Tough Mudder race.

When choosing a race and the distance, be sure to consider how much time you have available to train before your event. Depending on your current fitness level and your race-day goals, you may need more or less time to train. Keep in mind that the training times listed are averages and estimates, and your own judgment should be used when determining your training schedule and needs.

NOTE: Always make sure you are fit for physical activity before starting any exercise program. Consult with your physician if needed to ensure you train safely and take any health issues or injuries into consideration.

Estimated Training Times Needed

Current Fitness Level	Goal: Finish	Goal: Run a Strong Race	Goal: Compete
Not Active	8 weeks	16 weeks	32 weeks
Moderately Active	2-4 weeks	4-8 weeks	10-12 weeks
Very Active	1-2 weeks	2-4 weeks	4-8 weeks

Commit Yourself

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Pick a Race