A couple weeks ago, I competed in the Mad Dog (Mudder) Fitness Challenge, which according to the hosts, is the “toughest 5k you’ll ever run.” Basically, it was a 5k race at a local ski resort, in which one runs up and down the mountain’s ski slopes while also traversing a variety of obstacles like walls, balance beams, monkey bars, etc. On this particular Saturday, it was raining, windy, and unseasonably cold, but the race was a lot of fun nonetheless (at least, for crazy people like those pictured below). I would do it again given the opportunity, but honestly, I wouldn’t pay to do it again unless some things were improved upon.

What follows in this article are two things:

1) Thoughts about participating in this type of event, and advice for those who have never done one before, but have been thinking about it.

2) My review of the event itself, what I liked and didn’t like, and how I would improve it, if it were up to me.

Our group after finishing the race. Note the frigid temperature.