Do you get a kick out of watching loved ones slide face first into ooey gooey mud? Do you daydream about crawling on your hands and knees through pits of sludge? Do you have a white t-shirt that would look much better dyed brown? Then the Irvine Lake Mud Run is an event you should add to your bucket list. With 32 oozing obstacles spaced out over three-ish miles, the mud run provides exactly what mudders of every shape, size and speed are craving: mud in every nook and cranny.
While the Irvine Lake Mud Run’s main attraction was the obstacle course, there were plenty of things to do at the staging area before and after. It didn’t take long to find the beer garden with an assortment of light summer ales; local food trucks engulfed in the smells of smoking meats, spicy chillies and iced lemonade; and live music. A small eco fair featured sustainably-minded businesses like Farm Fresh to You (a large California CSA), Live Wire Energy, Seba Med, and Sun Run. With large picnic benches, shade trees, bountiful sunshine, and a tiny climbing wall and matching mini golf course, the Irvine Lake Mud Run had entertained every need, not to mention provided enough mire to keep hundreds of mudders happy.
Profits from Saturday’s event went toward Blind Start of America, a nonprofit that helps the visually impaired conquer their athletic goals and cross finish lines. Runners were encouraged to partake in specialized daily activities including running the course blindfolded with a helper.
