Difficulty of the course and rough-n-ready attire is an integral part of the event.
While safety precautions have been taken, the nature of this event recommends that runners wear attire that reduces the possibility of mishap, such as long pants, boots, long-sleeve shirt and gloves.
Race attire:
Let common sense be your guide. If that doesn?t work? check this out. Many myths are out there on what to wear and not wear. 100% Cotton that is loose fitting is bad. Anything that retains water will soak up the mud and water and weigh you down, not to mention chaff you. Sweat Pants are extremely bad? running shorts/biker shorts are extremely good. Spandex is best. Knee high socks? bad, hello ankle weights!
Now let me gab a moment about running shoes. Exactly that? Running shoes! Not cross trainers, Converse sneakers or basketball shoes. Running shoes that ?breathe? are what you want (leather is bad). You DON?T need to duct tape your shoes onto your feet, but you may if you want to look like the serious adventure runner! Simply double-knot your laces and ?TUCK? them in. If you duct tape your shoes, people have the tendency to tape too hard and cut off the circulation, or limit the range of motion in your foot, causing injury. By taping, you loose 50% or more of the traction on the bottom of your shoes as well? 345 yards into the race is the first mud hole! You do the math. From the first obstacle on, it?s mud, dirt, mud after mud for 2 miles? then it?s a 3 mile stroll. History shows that most runners pull off the tape on the back side of the run.
Train like you run:
check it out yourself. Get into what you want to wear on race day, go down to one of the Kern Parks on the River, dressed in your favourite football team sweats, tape up and run across/up and down the river. Feel the weight of the water in your clothes, the weight of the shoes, the traction of your shoes taped? the flexibility of your feet when taped. Then wear Spandex or nylon shorts try your shoes double-knotted and socks tucked. Huge difference! You don?t see Marines running up the river with duct tape on their feet do you? (Usually, we?re wearing our Boots and Utes).
Post race: In the event you want to get cleaned up, don?t forget a quick change of clothes (cotton sweats are OK here!). The post race festivities are meant to be fun. You don?t have to remain muddy and wet. LOL
Team shirts: they add to the spirit of the event. If you?re on a team, make up your own team name and a shirt to show the pride of your team! I?ve seen some great shirts and it makes the event all the more fun. Doesn?t have to be anything fancy?just communicates the esprit de corps of your team.
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No diving into mud holes (no mud hole is over 4 feet deep). Diving will cause you to be a safety violator and be escorted off the course for your safety and the safety of other runners.
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Ease into obstacles, broken ankles have happened due to mis- judgement of depth of water/mud? in this case, "lack of judgement"
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Be aware of your footing. Your shoes are muddy with less traction.
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Be respectful and courteous. Just because you helped someone over that 8' wall?doesn?t mean someone will help you! Keep your composure and tongue in check.
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Be patient when getting through a bottleneck; they do happen.