UFM: moving to wellness

Gear and Race Tips for Muddy Buddy, Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash or Spartan

Updated on May 29, 2012

- Shoes are important - you want a thin upper that does not hold water... and serious but not heavy tread... I ran the Warrior Dash in Vibrams. BAD idea smartypants! I was sliding from start to finish and rammed the ends of my toes so hard I could barely walk after. You want light weight trail shoes made for wet slippery climates... like the New Balance XC700. Solomon and Inov-8 also makes a good shoe. Rackets and Runners can get their hands on the NB ones... but order them soon so they are here in time! I ran the Spartan in the NB Minimus and was worried about not having enough tread. Turned out to be the perfect shoes. Remember that your shoes are going to get very wet and test them. I like the minimus because you can even swim in them and they have enough flexibility that you can "feel" and hold onto obstacles with your feet.
- Socks are also critical weaponry. Acrylic is nice... but make sure they are thin and only wear above ankle socks. If they are below the ankle you will likely be starting a sharp things in my socks collection.
- Wear tight clothes or go shirtless. Baggy means saggy. Less is more in the clothing department. You are going to get soaked.
- Use sun screen forgo the hat. You'll probably loose it. If you want to wear one, cool, just make peace with the fact that it may not be on your head at the finish line... so wear an old one.
- Goggles and/or gloves seem to be personal preference. Goggles can help keep the mud out of your eyes... gloves can help you grip and/or save the skin on your hands. Just make sure your goggles are comfortable around your neck when you're running (they even have outdoor goggles with dark lenses) and that you test both the goggles and gloves in a variety of conditions... especially when wet or muddy. You can try mountain biking or kayaking gloves or the sticky ones you find in a hardware store.
- For the longer races, don't forget about nutrition and hydration, as using your whole body burns more calories. You may need to carry a small belt (like a SPI belt... they even have a waterproof version)
- Pace yourself out there - go steady and when you hit obstacles don't pounce or stall. Either way you are wasting far too much energy. Try to stay zen - relax your face. Relax your muscles. Breathe. And have fun, you're probably going to fall or trip or screw up at least once. Who cares! That's the fun of it!
- Lastly, make sure to practice everything. Wear your outfit, shoes, go for a swim in them, run up and down a mountain.