Trail Run FAQ’s

Why trails?

Heading out on a trail instead of pavement is appealing for so many reasons. Escaping into the woods or meadows gives you a nature experience that a road run often cannot, and a trail's softer surface gives your body a break, too. The benefits of trail running span the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual areas of your life.

 

What are the event dates?

5K- May 2, 2015

10K- June 10, 2015

15K- July 11, 2015

 

What is the cost and are there any discounts?

By not offering a lot of frills, we are able to keep the race price low.  Each individual event will cost $30 per participant. However, if you sign up for multiple events you will receive a discount accordingly.

1 event - $30

2 events - $55

3 events - $80     

Each entrant will receive a medal, t-shirt, and race bib.

 

I’m Not Very Fast; Do You think I’ll be last? 
Probably. But so what? Actually, our answer for this question is wrong in every single case except for one person, so why worry about it?   I count every person that registered but didn’t show up and people that got hurt and had to drop out as “people whose asses I kicked”. It makes being toward the end a lot more palatable!!  Keep in mind this is not a race, it is a run!  We will not be giving out a 1st place trophy; everyone receives a medal for finishing.  We are challenging you to challenge yourself!!

How well are the courses marked? 
What do you expect us to say, that only an Indian or Boy Scout could follow it??!!  Our courses will be marked by flags on the left hand side of the trail.  As long as you have flags to your left, you are on course!!  If you do get lost, it’s probably because you didn’t listen to the directions before the race, weren’t vigilant at intersections, disregarded the fact that you ran for the last 3 miles without seeing a mile marker, followed someone who you ASSUMED knew where they were going or did something that defies even the broadest definition of "common sense".  But seriously, all courses will be ran prior to the event by a team of people who have never been on the property or seen the trail to ensure that we have covered our bases. 

What Type of Shoes Should I Wear? 
Hi-heels and golf spikes are not recommended.  Neither are bowling shoes since they don’t seem to go with anything. Ballet slippers come in handy when jumping over logs but are pretty useless everywhere else on the course.  Most participants run in whatever they train in for the road. Whatever you wear, however, will often get wet, muddy, and smelly so bring other shoes for afterwards.   

What if I Can’t Finish It? 
Have you always had these self-esteem problems??  YOU WILL FINISH, CUPCAKE!   We have faith that all of our competitors will complete this challenge.  If you can’t run…walk.  If you can’t walk…crawl.  However, if injury or just sheer exhaustion does occur all of our aide station folks, whom you’ll pass repeatedly along the way, will be glad to call for someone to bring you back to the base area.   
 

Do I need to Carry Water? 
There’s normally water stops every 1-2 miles in all of our runs. If you can’t run a maximum of 1-2 miles without a water stop, you may wish to see an urologist or have your sweat glands surgically removed.  The 5K will have a water station at the turn around point as well as at the finish line.  The 10K course will have a station at the 2-mile, 4-mile, and finish points.  And the 15K will have stations at the 2-mile, 4-mile, 6-mile, 8-mile, and finish points.  If the temperature reaches “fiery gates of hell” stage, we will add stations accordingly.

 

What type of weather should I expect during race weekend?

This is Kentucky!   There is a saying here: “If you don’t like the weather, hang around a minute.”  In May, June, and July you can expect almost anything except ice and snow…..and really we can make no guarantees with that general assumption!

Trails: Most of the course flows through shaded forest. However, there are some sections that include open sun. The forest trails can be shoe-sucking mud in places, baked mud hard as a rock, or just soft enough to pamper your feet. 

Temperature: Some years have been sweltering with temperatures close to 100 degrees and very humid.  Other years have been very pleasant in the 70s with a cool breeze. There could be thunderstorms, cooling drizzle, extremely strong winds, or stagnant air. Expect the unexpected!!

Our Advice? Bring all types of clothing with you: change of shirts, socks and shoes; jackets, rain gear. When you see the weather forecast for the race days, you can decide what to wear throughout the race. However, be somewhat cynical about any forecast that you hear – it may change in a few hours. 

 

FILTHY 5K FAQ's

Can I really do a mud run? 

Um, yeah.  In the immortal words of Patches O’Houlihan: “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball”.   Let’s expand on that sound logic a bit: “If you can get from the start to the finish, you can complete a mud run.”   Basically, if you can walk approximately 3 miles in muddy clothes – you can complete your first mud run.   It may not be pretty, but that first taste of victory is usually all it takes to turn your average couch potato into an addicted mud runner; that’s why this sport is ballooning to epic proportions with new events being added worldwide nearly every day.

 

What type of training do I need to complete an obstacle race or mud run?

Athletes don’t necessarily “need” training… wait – don’t put the book down!   YES, YOU NEED TRAINING!  (Whew, that was close!).  While everyone meeting the minimum age requirements is welcome at most events, you should have a baseline level of fitness that will allow you to participate safely and not be an undue burden on those around you or blocking their path. The code of honor at nearly every event is to help those around you at each obstacle to your best ability prior to moving on, and that is extremely difficult to do with individuals who lack the strength, know-how or fortitude to help themselves. How many times have you climbed a cargo net? Scaled an 8-foot wall? Jumped over flaming hay bales? Until you’ve completed your first obstacle race or hell week in military training, the answer is most likely zero. On race day, you’re only going to have a few seconds to decide how to tackle an obstacle that you most likely have never seen before; sometimes that ends with either your body or ego a bumped and bruised mess crumbled at the base of a barrier.

 

What should I wear? 

While nudity is not permitted at any of our events, men in thongs seem to converge by the dozens to participate in mud runs. This attire is not only permitted, it is encouraged! A word of warning about costumes – what you wear to the start line will be in tatters by the finish. If you start out with a tutu and angel wings, you’ll be dragging those sodden wings through every obstacle and mud pit and dealing with the chafing from your decorative tutu every step of the way. You may have looked cute & funny at the start line, but there’s a good chance you’ll look like a sewer rat at the finish line. Costumes also fall way short on protecting the areas of your body that take the most abuse during an event: your elbows, knees, hands, forearms, shins and feet.

 

How “in-shape” should I be? 

Round is a shape isn't it? All obstacle races and mud runs are usually suitable for most athletes of any size, shape and ability. Of course, it is required that you sign a waiver that you are healthy (and crazy) enough to participate, and have been checked out and cleared by a medical professional before attempting any event. At any race you will see a diverse cross-section of fitness levels on display and body types from all over the fitness continuum. If you have the willpower to finish, there’s a spot for you at nearly every starting line.

 

Are there events for first-timers? 

Yes – every event is for first-timers! The enormous growth and popularity of the sport guarantees that there will be hundreds –of first-timers at most events. Even if you have raced another Mud Run or Obstacle Race before, each course features different obstacles, distances and terrain; every time you show up for an event it is arguably everyone’s “first time” as they have never seen that exact course before. As a first-timer, the best advice is to pick a start time that will give you the opportunity to scout the course – if you are allowed – and surround yourself with other racers that are the same general ability as you. When lining up for your start, move towards the back of the pack so you can observe others tackling each obstacle. Build your confidence as you conquer the race elements and then you can pick up the pace. Sprinting out of the starting gate isn’t the best option; take your time and absorb the lessons from the competitors in front of you; let them wade into the mud first and you can pick your path based on immediate feedback from their results!

 

Can I compete with a team?

Absolutely, showing up on race day with a team is not only encouraged by race staff, it is a fantastic way to show that handsome guy from accounting that’s everyone is equal when they are adorned in muck. Seriously, participating with a team is extremely beneficial for first-timers as you have a built in cheering squad and support staff on every obstacle. Make sure you do your part for the group and help out as much as you get helped – or more. The best part about being in a team may be the matching costumes or T-shirts, but achieving a goal together!

 

If I can’t get over an obstacle, what can I do?

Let’s break it down into steps:

Step 1: Assess the obstacle before engaging; figure out its weaknesses and what elements of the barrier you can use. Are there stanchions or supports you could use to boost yourself up? Is one side easier to climb/descend/crawl through than the other? Step 2: Watch other competitors and their success or failures and take notes – it also won’t hurt your karma if you help ‘em out and you just might get the same treatment from other competitors.

Step 3: Engage the obstacle and commit to conquering it; this means you use your momentum, strength and every bit of your mental fortitude to crush that obstacle. Every wall that you half-heartedly attempt to climb is a waste of your energy as you’ll have to try again after you fail.

Step 4: Didn’t tackle it? Follow steps 1-3 again, there may be a trick that you need to figure out in order to pass.

Step 5: If you’ve made it to this step and you’re still not past the obstacle, then you probably didn’t take the hint in step #2 about getting good karma by helping someone else – so go do it! Follow the Dirty Rule: “Do unto other mud racers as you would have them do unto you.” If you need to ask for help, then don’t be shy. Who knows, that person may need your help on the next obstacle.

Step 6: Hi… you’re still here? OK, this would be a good time to chalk this obstacle up to “I’ll get it next time” and bypass it carefully. As you pass, take one last look at that menacing barrier between you and immortality and vow to yourself that you will one day emerge victorious. Now, wipe that mud off your face and soldier on to the next obstacle!

 

The event I signed up for has a “wave start”, what does that mean?

In events with large numbers of competitors, the race organizers will break down the racers into groups with more manageable numbers and stagger their start time. This allows for a more enjoyable experience for participants and less overcrowding or waiting at obstacles. An interval of 10 to 15 minutes is common between groups, depending on the size of the course, number of obstacles and race-day conditions. Some of the largest events have adopted the practice of assigning exact start times spaced throughout the day, not only does this cut down on course congestion but it also allows racers to relax, spectate and prepare for the event without worrying about what wave they will be in. As a practice, the fastest or “elite” competitors will get the earliest start times and be challenged by a course that hasn’t been trodden upon by thousands of racers.

 

Are events timed?

No, not all events are timed – hence the classifications in this book of “timed races” and “challenges”. One is not better than the other, just different. Courses that are timed are usually geared a little differently than untimed ones. Enjoy the challenge!

 

Do you have to be totally nuts to enjoy Mud Runs & Obstacle Races?

No, but it surely helps!!