Getting Dirty in a Mud Run!

By Donna Stark

Do you remember how much fun those obstacle courses that your gym teacher set up years ago were? Well, if you enjoy competing, being pushed to your limits, and having a great time with a group of friends, I may have something that will interest you. It's a race. A special type of race that is filled with one obstacle after the next. A grown-up version of what you experienced back in your fourth-grade gym class. And if that sounds intriguing, get a load of this. Most of the course is filled with mud too!

Is a Mud Run for You?

It's always fun to get dirty but it's even more fun to do so while hurling yourself over walls, jumping over fire, bouncing on trampolines, and rocketing down huge water slides (as I said, this isn't your elementary gym class here). It sounds like a ton of fun, but having fun isn't the only reason why you should participate. There are a lot of amazing health benefits too! Take a look at a few of them below.

• Healthy heart - The more you get your heart pumping, the stronger it will become. By adding some extra athletic events like these mud runs into your normal fitness routine, you can improve both the health and function of your heart while decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Better shape - If you are looking to lose weight and are bored at the gym, spice your fitness routine up with professional mud runs! The constant training and the amount of effort exerted during the course will have you burning all of those extra calories and fat in no time!
• Less stress - Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and there is no better way to guarantee the commitment to your workouts than signing up for a mud run. After all, you definitely want to hit the course fully-prepared, right? And you know it will feel oh, so good to leave all of that stress on the racecourse!
• Improved athletic performance - In addition to building your strength and endurance, mud runs can also help increase your balance and coordination. Just picture it. You could be climbing rock walls, crawling through mud under barbed wire, balancing on beams, swinging from ropes, and hanging on monkey bars. When they advertise a full-body workout, they aren't kidding!

Having Fun While Getting Healthy

There is nothing more exciting than reaching all of your health and fitness goals while participating in fun adventures with friends. So go ahead ... sign yourself and your friends up for the next mud run and get ready to get dirty!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Eagan, Minn.