Muddy Monk Double Down Race Report
I have to admit, when I saw this post on Facebook yesterday, I thought, “hmm.”
Not a “hmm” that scared me away from running the Muddy Monk 10k/20K Double Down today, but a “hmm” that made me think, “Guess I will have to do a bit more planning for this race!” As in, actually bringing extra socks and shoes, and clothes to change in to after. As it is, I had to borrow a long sleeved shirt from my friend Ed, to wear during the race. And my pre-race evening consisted of a huge plate of fajitas, with chips and salsa and french fries… then the equivalent of three glasses of wine… followed by less than six hours of sleep.
Oops?
So. I think we’ve established that the premise of this race was to have fun! And we sure did!
Let me back track just a bit, and tell you about the Double Down. Art (the race director) offered me a free entry for a Muddy Monk race this year, and after reading the description on their website, of course, I had to pick this one:
The Double Down 10k & 20k Trail Race is a unique trail race in that you don’t sign up for a particular distance and you don’t need to decide which distance you run until you finish the first 10k. If you feel fresh and want to tackle the course again to make it a 20k, then go for it! If you get finished with the first 10k and want to call it day, then no worries! It’s completely up to you whether or not you want to “double down”!
How neat that you got to choose whether to run the 10K or the 20K on course?! I had never heard of a race where you got to choose the distance during the race before. Of course, as I signed up, I thought for sure I would “double down” and go for the full 20K! But as it rained all week and I imagined all the mud on course, I told my friends that I would choose to do the second loop if I wasn’t miserable. Well, duh. Why would running in this make me miserable?
Of course I did the second loop! It looks like I was in the minority though – 235 people did the 10K and 89 did the 20K. I am surprised by how many people did not “double down”! Do you think you would have “doubled down” on this course?
Aside from a mile+ of running in the mud, and some larger puddles, this course was pretty easy and non-technical – just crushed stone and grass. The water and mud was what made it interesting! Oh! And of course, running the entire race with Bobbi and Rachel.
I am telling you, running races like this with friends makes it so much more fun. It’s just such a great adventure to share with someone. And sometimes, you actually need an extra hand – to pull you out of the mud or over a water crossing. Ha ha.
Interestingly, I do think that if you were trying to competitively run something like this, you might get a bit frustrated. Sliding around in the mud? Jumping over logs? Wading through cold water? It’s all fun, but someone über concerned about time might get annoyed with that (and why they would be at this type of run… I do not know). Not us! We had a blast! I obnoxiously splashed in the puddles and tried to get as much mud on me as possible. We finished around 2:19:46.
A few people from our Multisport club were there and even waited for us to finish. I always appreciate when people wait around for me!
Post race consisted of hot dogs* and beer (none for me, ha ha), and comparisons of muddy shoes.
Yep, I will be cleaning the dirt out of my toenails for a long time. Ha ha. But I can’t wait to do my next Muddy Monk event! Art puts on such fun races, at great value, and with great goodies! I love the shirt and medal we got today!
ORANGE!!!
And I love that this race reminded me how much fun I love to run in the mud and get dirty! Do you love to run in the mud?
*No dog for me – out of vegan dogs, I was cool just eating the condiments on the bun.
Themocracy
Ahh! Looks like a blast! Muddy Monk never disappoints with the fun adventures. So glad you doubled down!
Muddy Monk has the best races! Art told me you weren’t able to make this one! Wish I could’ve seen you!
I double downed today too! That was my second Muddy Monk race. They are definitely good events. I totally saw you on the course but didn’t know who you were at the time. Your pants helped make you stand out. Today was definitely one of those days you just had to embrace the dirt and enjoy yourself. Think about how much strength you’re building sloshing through that mud. The next road run will be a piece of cake! (*After getting over the soreness caused by today)
Aww man! Wish I would have known you were there! I am adding your blog to my rss now so I can keep updated with your races, lol!
Ha ha ha! Are you still sore? The bottom of my feet kind of were!
No worries, I didn’t know who would be there either. My legs are a little sore and tired. I reached a new all time high in weekly mileage so I’m sure that contributed as well. My feet were actually fine even though I basically broke the rules and wore practically new shoes for the race. I had only worn my trail shoes for 3 miles prior to this one.
That sounds like a lot of fun! I have not done any trail running or muddy type runs. Good job going for that second loop! I like the name on your bib.
Thanks! That is my car license plate “number” too 🙂
saweet!!! YOu either gotta love it or not. And you certainly do!
That looks so fun!
Nice report and photos Kimbot. Wish I had been there, you know how much I love trail running (just like my license plate holder says).
I did a 20k race last year in Rock Cut that was a mud fest. St Pat’s Day, heat wave caused the snow and ice to melt a week before then 2 hours before the race it poured rain for an hour. Being a back of the pack runner with 300 ahead of me the trails got really muddy, shoe sucking mud. I still set a course PR that day but then 5 years before when I last did it there was snow and ice.
Tip: ALWAYS pack extra shoes, socks, shirt, towels and wetwipes when you go (dirt) trail running even when it is dry. Oh and a plastic bag to put the muddy stuff in.
We were in the back of the pack too and getting all the extra squishy mud! Love it!
Now, tips for getting the mud off the shoes? Should I go spray them down? 🙂
Tips for getting mud off the shoes. Spray them down might work but then you are getting mud wet again. Best is to let them dry then you can scrape the mud of with say a screw driver or even a hard brush. Even banging the pair together (outside) will remove a lot.
I love having chicken fajitas for pre-race/long run fuel. I did that a lot during marathon training. But I would get them to go so I wasn’t tempted to load up on chips & salsa (and margaritas) too.
Glad you had fun! When I saw those pics on FB last night, I was relieved my race today would be on paved streets!
Best. Race. Ever!
I seriously have found my calling. I think there will be lots more of this in my future!
Yay!
I am so scared to do a mud run..the fact of mud in my mouth freaks me out
No mud in the mouth here! Just on my lower body. Are you worried you would fall?
I have not run in the mud but it has been a conscious decision. It’s why I won’t run the Warrior Dash. Just doesn’t appeal to me. That and I own one pair of running shoes that I’d rather not ruin.
saw you on the course. Although i have seen pics, i didn’t recognize you. Race was great and i scrubbed my toes in the shower for a long time!
Ahh! Wish I would’ve known you to say hi! I am still scrubbing my toes. Sigh. 😉
I don’t mind a bit of mud or water but that looked excessive! Muddy monk races look awesome. So far I have to DNS’ b/c of ice in feb and doing Quarryman with my work peeps yesterday. Had a great run there so I was happy. I probably would have done 20k yesterday b/c I am a sucker for punishment. And I have lots of old shoes and running gear that can be thrown away!
Great job! I have to say that you are the runner that makes everything look fun! I want to be that person, too!
Ha ha ha. It wasn’t that bad. I just shared the pics that made it look that way. Most of the trail was dry 😉
Awesome job at Quarryman!
And thank you! What a compliment! I bet you are that person too 🙂
A guy in my pilates class said after that start he decided in the first 500 yards to do 10k. Wet feet are tough.
I am usually “that runner” except when I lose my composure. At mile 9.4 or so in Quarryman the kids at the water stop were yelling one to go and I may have yelled at them that it was MUCH LESS THAN A MILE! 😉
Sounds like you had a great pre-race evening for a fun event! Ha ha! I think that I would have finished at the 10k. I’m not a fun of mud, but with friends, maybe so.
WOW! What a race!
You are such a badass 🙂 I want to be like Kim when I grow up.
LOL! Thanks. You can do this sort of crazy crap now! 🙂
Great to meet you three yesterday! You have a great attitude for fun running, which is awesome. Thank you for letting me ‘trail’ you for the last couple of miles – I didn’t have enough energy to pass you, and you guys got me through ‘the great muddy’! See you at the races!!
Hi Joan! Thanks so much for commenting! I was happy you ran with us and it was fun to chat! Let me know which Muddy Monk you’re doing next, lol! 🙂
I would have totally “doubled down!!”
I love to run in the mud, rain, snow, whatever!
I did Run Amuck last year on the Marine Corps base and LOVED it!! I was trying to get as dirty as possible! The more dirty, the more fun!
YESSS!!! I was sad when the giant puddles washed the mud off of me, somewhat. LOL!
Looks like a blast! Mud is fun but I prefer when it is not cold, that looks like an overall cold race!!
It was in the high 30s, I think. People were commenting on how cold the water was, but it felt okay to me! There was a bit of hail and maybe some snow flurries. LOL.
That sounds like a lot of fun! The only mud run I’ve done is an obstacle race and while it was fun, it was also overly crowded. This kind of trail mud run sounds more my speed! I’ve run a few trail races that had a little mud involved but nothing like this race! It’s cool that they let you decide mid-race whether you want to do one loop or two.
Great race – although the water doesn’t look fun to run through. I bet that is why ppl didn’t do the second loop.
That looks like so much fun!! I definitely would’ve done the 2nd loop too. I’ve never done a mud run, but would love to!
I at the Double Down too. I had planned to Double Down, but I was definitely in that 10K majority! My training was crap, but even if it hadn’t been there was no way I would have made it through the second loop. I started getting blisters from my wet shoes and socks around mile 5.
I also saw you there though I had no idea until right now!
Aww man, we should have had a Chicago Running Bloggers meetup! DARNit!!!!! Did you have fun despite the blisters?
It looks like you had soo much fun! Another great Muddy Monk race!
If I were running with YOUUUU, I may have doubled down (double downed??). I am amused that you ate condiments on a bun. We should eat Biscoff on a hot dog bun.
That is a very good idea! Did I tell you that I had Biscoff spread on Biscoff cookies when we went to TX? LOL 🙂