I have seen pictures and heard stories from friends and family who have completed a Mud Run and thought; I want to do that someday. The idea of running an obstacle course through the mud sounds not only challenging, but also dirty and fun. So, I added it to my bucket list thinking it was going to be years down the road before I crossed it off. Boy, was I wrong.
Why I Did A Mud Run Sooner Than Planned
After my stepsister, Cathy, read my bucket list during the launch of my blog in April of 2019, she sent me the following message.
Hey we gotta talk. I can help you cross off a few things on your bucket list! And I would love it if you helped me achieve something I have wanted to do as well.
Not only was I flattered she read my blog, but also heartened that reading it gave her the desire to do something she always wanted. Cathy’s enthusiasm was contagious. Her excitement pulled me in, as I was left waiting to hear her request.
For you to understand my excitement, I need to give you a little background. Cathy was recently diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. She underwent radiation treatment and a mastectomy, but she is on the road to recovery. After dealing with the hard year she was dealt, Cathy had the strength to dust herself off and move forward with living her life. This is what impressed me the most and I’d be happy to check off anything she asked.
Surprised to learn out of all the items on my list, she wanted to do a MudRun. Thinking this would be a year away, because she would need time to recoup and train, I responded “Great, let’s do it.” But no, Cathy’s intention was to do the Run that summer. She explained there’s an event called MudGirl that raises money and awareness for breast cancer where only women can participate. This run is hosted at different locations throughout the summer and one will be held in Ottawa, which is close to her home.
With a pitch like that, how could I say no. Besides, it is on my list.
How We Prepared: making a plan
The date was set; August 24th, 2019 and we had 4 months to organize and hopefully train. We agreed to run as a group, so we invited my sister’s Nikki and Shannon and our sister-in-law, Kelly to join us. Cathy also extended an invite her friend Kelly. In a matter of minutes, we became a team and that is how the “Mudderella Warriors” were born.
I created a Facebook event so we could all keep in touch and registered our team on MudGirl’s website. “Sister Kelly” ordered our team shirts from a local vender, King Sportswear. Our shirts were made from 100% polyester jersey with wicking technology and they looked and felt amazing. It was money well spent.
The Event: watching it happen
Women of all sizes and ages buzzed around the grounds with confidence as a medal hung from their necks and mud was seen caked to their skin and clothing. We arrived 30 minutes before our 12:15 start time and we could hear music pounding near the starting line as the DJ was trying to pump-up the next wave of racers. You could feel the electricity in the air, as it rippled with excitement upon entering the event. There were plenty of registration booths available to make the sign in process easy and efficient. Each of my teammates received a goodie bag supplied with a headband, temporary tattoos, bracelet, and a water bottle.
(right to left) “friend” Kelly, Cathy, Me, Nicole, Shannon
We put on the provided gear, while our cheering squad got there visitor passes before meeting up with us. They were given a map of the grounds including the location and names of the obstacles we’d be facing. This map also outlined all locations available to the events visitors. This made it easy for our friends and family to set up for the best photo opportunities.
The Starting Line
Heading to the starting line the anticipation was building as the DJ and announcer once again boosted the morel of a new group of racers. The DJ played the song “All I Do Is Win” while the announcer repeated the mantra “Start as a team. Finish as a team”. I couldn’t help but dance and sing along.
“All I do is win win win no matter what…”
Since the start and finish lines were beside each other, I was able to witnessed many teams finishing arm in arm. These groups of women were smiling and congratulating each other as they all completed 
the same goal. It was inspiring to see and I couldn’t wait to experience the same sense of accomplishment.
Before I knew it the announcer started a countdown “10, 9, 8 7.“ We all joined in, “6, 5, 4.” I could see our cheering squad on the sidelines. Holding a camera in one hand and waiving with the other, they were also ready and eager for us to start. “3, 2, 1” we were off. The Mudderella Warriors jogged out of the starting gate as a team, smiling and waving as we passed our fan club.
The Obstacles
The course was made up with 17 plus obstacles that stretched over 5 km of flat ground. Each obstacle was different, providing its own challenges.
In the first kilometer we didn’t face any obstacles that had us going through mud, but the course made up for it in the second kilometer. This was where our friends and family were waiting for us. Camera in hand they were prepared to capture the perfect photo or video moment of our team getting dirty. As we crawled through the appropriately named “MudCrawler” obstacle, I couldn’t help but smile and laugh at our situation. I was having fun playing in the mud, who knew. I found the next obstacle “MudBumps” to be a challenge. Climbing the man-made mud hill without sliding back down into the muddy pool of water, proved to be difficult. For future reference I recommend wearing shoes with grips. Mine were too worn out on the bottom to provide me with any assistance in this climb.
The Mudderella Warriors made it through the course crawling through mud and inflatable tubes, scaling monkey bars and cargo nets, and sliding down an inflatable slide. We accomplished this by encouraging and helping each other along the way. I found not only could I find help from my own teammates but also from the other teams or individuals racing. Everyone was here for the same goal and that goal was not too win the race, but to support women. That support was evident in every friendly smile, to every “You got this” declaration I encountered. It was a humbling experience.
The Finish Line
After completing the last obstacle, we could hear the announcer asking the crowd to welcome the next group of racers cross the finish line. Our team lined up holding each others’ hands, before jogging across the finish line adhering to the event’s mantra “Start as a Team, Finish as a Team. The crowd erupted with cheers and applause, as we were each awarded with a congratulations and a MudGirl medal.
The feeling of accomplishment was both exhilarating and emotional, as our team congratulated each other with hugs and laughter. Thank you, Cathy for asking me to get dirty for a cause, sharing this experience with you and our sisters is one I will cherish forever.
My Advice
I was honestly nervous leading up to this run, as I didn’t train as much as I initially planned. Fortunately for me, either did the rest of my teammates. We were all in agreement to take it easy, even if that meant we walked the entire course. This is an important element to choosing an obstacle race, you want to choose one that is best suited for your bodies’ abilities. The MudGIrl run is a good option for beginners as it gives you the freedom to be as competitive as you want. Plus, the minimum age is seven, so that will help take the edge off.
Another important tip is to wear the appropriate clothing and shoes. It is recommended to 
wear light sportswear and to stay away from cotton fabrics. Cotton will weigh you down once wet and muddy. Plus, you don’t want to wear anything you don’t want to get dirty or possibly ruin. Your shoes should also be made from a breathable material. I would also stay away from waterproof shoes as they will only hold the water in and weigh you down.
But, the best advice I can give you is to have fun. Don’t be afraid to get dirty and laugh at yourself. This is an unforgettable experience and I guarantee you will not regret joining the #pinkarmy.
My name is Elise, I am a Bucket List Blogger, who inspires and helps others complete their own adventures by sharing my experiences and recommendations.