As I am a Mud Run Junkie, I was thrilled to win an entry to Summer of Mud at irvine Lake. I was a bit put off by having to pay $5 to pick up my bib and T-shirt on race day, but this seems to be a trend and I did not want to drive 50 miles each way on Friday. Parking was $10 which is also a bad trend but the VIP $20 was only one row in front of mine. Volunteers were great with parking and directions. Registration and packet pick up was just inside the gate so no problem there. The women’s tank top is very nice. This event was the best organized Mud Run I have ever done and it was my 29th. My bib said 9 am – wave 19 at 9:40, and so it was. Everything was on time. Each wave had about 50 people. Right from the start we had a waist deep mud pit which got everyone laughing and screaming. It got even better from then on. Really interesting obstacles, many big mud pits and whoop-de-doos. They announced the course was 3.99 miles in order to fit in all the obstacles. The water slides were excellent, the walls were not to high, and the volunteers were very helpful and really watching out for people. There were several drinking water stops. The final mud pits were a challenge and I got the muddiest I have ever been. There was a short back-up at the biggest mud pit and at the ice water dumpster but everyone took it in good part. The foam pit at the finish line was very entertaining. The showers were very nice and actually had soap dispensers -take note Mud Run Race Directors. Lots of vendors, food trucks, beer stands and music. The medal is awesome and as I signed up for the timed individual wave – I got 1st in my age division. When I left at 12:30 there was a mile long line of cars waiting to get in. Congrats to the organizers, I give this Mud Run an A+.
