Keila Diaz/Contributing Writer
New Year resolutions made during December tend to start fading in people’s minds by the middle of January, and those new running shoes end up in the back of the closet somewhere. But not for some. “These races are like a final test for the training you’ve done at the gym and at the end you feel great because you did something you couldn’t before,” said Erika Sieira, a criminal psychology major at the university.
Sieira is referring to the Mud Run, an obstacle race that includes mud pits as part of the course. The race this year will take place March 24 at Vista View Park in Davie. The FIU Mud Run team has started practicing on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. with the FIU Bay Runners Club. Mud Run events are done all over Florida with the first event taking place last September.
These events are put together by Mud Dogs, a company based in Pembroke Pines whose mission is to bring people together for fun and for charity. “The idea to use mud came because we wanted people feel like they have overcome something and because it’s fun,” said Jason Marguiles, the creator of Mud Run.
The charitable part is due to a portion of the proceeds of these events being donated to local charities where the Mud Runs are held. “For the last race the charity was Broward County Law Enforcement,” Marguiles said. Part of the proceeds from the March race will go to Kids In Distress, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and helping children who have been victims of abuse. The muddy runs are sponsored by companies like Bass Pro Shops, Fitness Unlimited, LA Fitness and Whole Foods. Mud Runs are races done in muddy terrain.
These challenging courses test the participants’ balance and strength through challenging obstacles in military style. Runners must climb, crawl, jump, do pushups, balance themselves on thin wooden planks, and carry sandbags at different lengths of the course.
“I did previously participate in an event called Muddy Buddy with my friend. It was a 5-mile race and a further distance than I had run in a long time, so I was really proud of myself after the race,” said Melissa Zwilling, doctorate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
“It was also tons of fun doing the obstacles, but there was no pressure to do them if you were unable. It was sort of like being a fan of a certain sports team. You don’t know the other fans, but you root for each other and encourage each other. I love that kind of positivity.”
Zwilling said it helps keep in shape, have a goal to work towards, and adds another dimension of fitness to a 5K with the obstacles. “It’s fun to just relax a little and get muddy,” she said.
The race is organized so that participants can choose between the five-kilometer and 10-kilometer tracks as well as an untimed course. “I will probably do the last wave because it isn’t timed,” said Christina Reddick, Biscayne Bay Campus Recreation coordinator at FIU.
Mud Runs are one in a new genre of running courses. The Color Run and The Spartan Race are also very popular because they include obstacles and other fun elements like the color powder thrown at racers in the Color Run. For fitness enthusiasts, the Mud Run and races like it are exciting ways to test their fitness and endurance levels.
The FIU Mud Run Team practices consist of running and walking exercises. The practices take place along the Bay. Students participating can train by themselves as well. “I am continuing my normal workouts with my Crossfit box [gym] to get ready for the event, but I’ve also tried to incorporate running a little more often,” Zwilling said.
Students are encouraged to join the FIU Team either to run or support runners on race day. Registration is still active on the Mud Dogs’ website and FIU students can save $20 using the special promo code sent to their school e-mails from BBC Recreation and FIU Tri Club.
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