12 Aug How to Prep for Your First Mud Run: What to Wear and Avoid

Last week I participated in my first mud run {I shared behind the scenes action on Snapchat. Follow @PatriceJWill} and it was definitely an interesting experience. I’ve always wanted to do a physical challenge with obstacle courses {kinda like an adult Double Dare with mud!} and I’m so glad I did. During the Dirty Girl Mud Run, we ran 3.1 miles and challenges included climbing walls, ropes, mud pits, etc.

But the week before the race I was frantically trying to figure out what I would wear. If you’ve ever wanted to do a mud run or any type of outdoor physical course that requires getting down and dirty, here are a few tips on the do’s and don’ts of what to wear.

Avoid the Baggy Clothes
Once you get all muddy and wet, your clothes will start to feel heavy, so you really want to skip the loose fitting, cotton garments. Why? Because they’ll wear you down. The last thing you want is a pair of heavy, wet sweats making your run that much more intense. A pair of fitted capris or yoga-style pants are a great option. Other women had fitted shorts. However, my girl Tara pointed out that pants would be a better option since a few of the challenges involved crawling. She was so right and I’m glad I listened to her!

Keep Your Hair Low and Contained
Initially I thought I would just put my hair in a high bun, but deciding against that was a good idea. Since we were crawling under pits and ropes, my bun would have probably got caught on something! So I just did two goddess braids and a scarf on top. I noticed other women opted for low ponytails, french braid, pig tails, etc. Pretty much any style that keeps your hair out of your face is a great option.

Double Knot Those Sneakers
Have you ever had to dig for your sneaker in a pile of mud? Hopefully you never have and I’m sure you don’t want to. A few of the obstacles involved crawling through mud and just after you stand up and right before you take your first step out of the mud, you feel a suction on your foot. If your sneakers aren’t laced up tightly, you just might lose a shoe! So make sure your kicks are nice and snug.

Skip the Short Socks
While I saw a few women with ankle socks, I also noticed quite a few women had knee high socks or at least tucked their pants into their socks. The reason for this? It really sucks when you get mud in between your socks and your feet. It feels soggy and completely uncomfortable and will surely lead to blisters. Either way your feet will get wet, but higher socks seemed to be the better choice. And more importantly, you really won’t want your socks sliding down in your sneakers.

Wear a Bathing Suit Underneath
This wasn’t something that crossed my mind until we were done with the mud run and it was time to get cleaned up. There were cleaning stations that consisted of about 20 hoses that were pretty out in the open {i.e. no privacy whatsoever!}. A few women in front of us had stripped down to their swimsuits, which they wore under their clothes. This was genius! It allowed them to take off their muddy clothing and get completely rinsed off without standing out in the open in their undies.

Bring a Few Trash Bags
Mud will be everywhere and you’ll be wet and if you’re not careful, your clean clothes and bag will get wet and muddy as well. That’s where trash bags and Ziploc bags come in handy. Place your muddy clothes in a bag and have everything else {your change of clothes, keys, wallet, phone, etc.} in a separate bag so you can get cleaned up without them getting soiled.

Bring Wet Wipes
The cleaning stations will get your arms, legs and back cleaned up, but it doesn’t hurt to bring a few wet wipes for your hands and feet. My nails were absolutely filthy after the mud run was over. Also, I have oily/acne prone skin, so my Yes to Tomatoes face wipes were a much needed refresher. The wipes will take up little space in your bag and if you don’t feel like carrying an entire pack, just bring a few in a Ziploc so they don’t dry out.

Though this was my first mud run and it was pretty low key, I definitely plan on participating in another one that really challenges me physically. I feel so much more prepared for the next time.

Have you ever done a mud run or obstacle course? What did you wear? Did you have any fashion choices that you regretted?

Photos: Grunts & Glam