Extreme Running in Virginia
Trail Running Through Mud and Obstacles
If you’re a runner living in or near Virginia, and the usual 5K or 10K race down paved city streets just isn’t creating the same amount of excitement that it once did, consider adding new ingredients to the mix — mud and obstacles. The following races will add an entirely new dimension to your running routine. One piece of advice — wear an old pair of running shoes!
Run Amuck 4-Miler, Quantico
Runners who have ever wondered what boot camp is like should sign up for the Run Amuck 4-Miler. With emphasis on the last syllable, runners will definitely experience the muck in this race, held at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico. Who else but the Marines could come up with as many obstacles? Runners will hit the trails, and the water hoses may hit them back. Cargo nets, a faux barbed wire crawl, tires, and a couple of mud pits also await participants as they grunt and sweat to the finish line. This race is usually held in mid-June.
HealthNet ASYMCA 8K Mud Run, Norfolk
The Marines are at it again in the Hampton Roads area. Held at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, runners will get all the fun of the Quantico race in a beach setting at the HealthNet ASYMCA 8K Mud Run. There’s a maze, a tire challenge, a wire crawl, and of course, the mud pit. Runners can take comfort in the fact that they’re doing it for a good cause. Proceeds support the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads, which has a variety of programs to support junior enlisted military members and their spouses and children. The race is held in early August.
Marine 5K Mud Run, Roanoke
Ensuring that their mud prints are left in all three corners of the state, the Marines also hold a mud run in Roanoke. The Marine 5K Mud Run course includes two mud pits and a run up and back down a steep hill called Mount Suribachi, in honor of the Marines who raised the flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Race organizers encourage everyone from beginners to experienced runners to enter this race. As the organizers say on the race website: “Part of the Marines creed is to never leave another Marine behind. And for this event we will never leave a runner behind!” The race is held in mid-September.
James River Scramble 10K, Richmond
The Marines are not involved with the James River Scramble 10K, but that doesn’t mean runners won’t get a challenge. “Scramble” is exactly what runners will do on this scenic and fun course. The race starts and ends on the banks of the James River in downtown Richmond. Runners go up-river for a short distance, cross over a bridge, and begin running down-river on top of the floodwall. Pavement turns to trail as participants climb a set of dirt stairs built into the side of a steep bank, and then eventually make their way into the woods, over (and sometimes through) streams, along wooden bridges, and onto and over the boulders of the mostly dry river bed. Another trek through the woods and over the Robert E. Lee Bridge takes runners to the finish line. The race is usually held in mid-June, but in 2009 it was held in mid-May. Check the website starting in March to see the date for that year.
Tips Before and After the Race
As stated earlier, if you run any one of these races, wear an old pair of running shoes, as well as an old pair of running shorts and t-shirt that you would not mind getting dirty. Also, remember to bring a towel and clean clothes to change into after the race. Finally, bring an open mind, and don't let the mud in your eyes keep you from seeing the ultimate goal of reaching the finish line.
Mud Run in Virginia
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