Had you asked me 10 or even 5 years ago whether I'd ever participate in a race, I'd have thought you were joking and called you mad. About twelve months back, I decided to take the plunge and enter a Spartan race. Since then, I've become quite keen on competing in various obstacle course races and fun runs around Melbourne. Over the Christmas period I took part in Operation Blackhawk, and most recently I competed in the Miss Muddy 5k Fun Run.
As with most of my life choices, I registered for this event rather spur-of-the-moment. Fortunately, they were still looking for people to volunteer. For anyone who hasn't taken part in an obstacle course race or charity fun run before, booking at the eleventh hour tends to be quite pricey. Miss Muddy offered the chance to volunteer and participate in the race at no cost. It was an ideal solution for me (a great option for those interested in trying fun runs without spending a lot of money).
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| Inspiring words throughout the course |
On the day of the event, early morning volunteers needed to arrive at 7 am to receive their roles and settle in. Fortunately I attended alongside two mates who helped ease the burden of getting up early on a Saturday. What's more, the event organiser made sure to keep all our friends together throughout the volunteer shift. Out of all the roles available, we ended up with the most physically demanding and the most enjoyable. We spent four hours working at the water balloon combat area. Spending four hours filling water balloons might seem rather tedious, wouldn't it? Actually, it wasn't! We had our own music station with tunes to keep us energised. When we ran short of water balloons, we'd simply hose down the participants instead. It was brilliant watching the different groups pass through and seeing everyone enjoying themselves.
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| Most rewarding volunteer role |
Once our volunteering stint concluded, we headed back to the starting point. Before we could begin the race, we grabbed a quick snack (hunger was setting in) to refuel. Each of us had our own constraints for the run—I was recovering from a torn thigh tendon—yet it made no difference. We were determined to complete the race at our own speed and have a good time doing it!
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| Getting muddy and loving it |
That approach was ideal for this amusing obstacle course! We proceeded at a leisurely pace. Our fitness levels weren't the concern. We commenced as a group, and we were determined to cross the finish line together. Every challenge was outstanding. During the tougher obstacles, we backed each other up and ensured we all made it through. The simpler and more enjoyable obstacles, we savoured the moment and had fun.
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| We got this! |
I shouldn't boast, but I was genuinely impressed by everything we managed to achieve. Prior to Miss Muddy, I'd never successfully completed a monkey bar challenge in any obstacle course. My teammates' incredible encouragement gave me the boost I needed to tackle the monkey bars with complete self-assurance. Before I knew it, I'd made it to the other end. Not only did I finish the obstacle, I absolutely nailed it! No judgement, but monkey bars are far tougher than they seem. Particularly when your upper body strength resembles a toothpick.
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| Not my best look. But I did it! |
The remainder of the course involved having a great time. Whilst we certainly didn't strain ourselves excessively, we did test and push our limits. It was a remarkable experience to undertake alongside mates. That's probably what I savour most (and why I'd strongly suggest) regarding obstacle course races. Participants are typically remarkably encouraging. Should you struggle with an obstacle, you can be assured that fellow runners will go to considerable lengths to help you complete it. Have you ever participated in an obstacle course race, and if so, what was your experience?
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