DC Mud Runs for Kids | KidFriendly DC

Owen and his buddies, Dylan and Cannon, after completing the Down & Dirty Adventure Kids Race

This past weekend was a muddy one for our family. Well, half of us, anyway. Both Owen and I partook in local mud runs in the area, and we both had an absolute blast.

I first posted about the Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race a couple of months ago. The event included challenges for both adults and kids, and had I not already registered to do a different mud run months before, I would have signed up for Merrell’s in a second.

Excited (and clean) as they wait for the race to begin

But Owen had been interested in racing through mud ever since I did it last summer and was super excited for the opportunity to get dirty, too. So, he and a couple of buddies entered the Adventure Kids race this past Sunday, a one-mile challenge for ages 7-13 that had kids runing through the woods, conquering a few obstacles, and slogging through a mud pit for the glory and fun of it.

And they’re off!

I posted these photos from the Merrell Down & Dirty on the KFDC Facebook page a few days ago and have had several inquiries about the race and other mud runs for kids in the area since. And good news: I just found out about another coming up in September!

A muddy swim

Ruckus Sports, the premiere family obstacle race, has announced its first event in the Washington, DC-Metro area. Ruckus DC will bring what they call the ultimate family adventure to the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, VA, on Saturday, September 28. There is a 5k adult challenge ($60) for participants ages 14 and up. There’s also the Mini Ruckus ($20 for unlimited waves), a course designed for ages 2 to 10 (though 11-13-year-olds are welcome, too). And they are currently offering $7 off registration when you use the code “IGNITE” at check out.

Good and muddy for the final stretch

Who knows if these mud runs are a temporary craze or poised to become a permanent fixture on the racing circuit? I, for one, hope they remain — not only do I think they’re a great time, but I love that kids can get in on the dirty fun, too.

More information about the upcoming Ruckus DC race is available on the website.

Get Down and Dirty at Merrell’s Obstacle Course & Mud Run this Summer

Plenty of mud and fun at the Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race

Who’s up for a good physical challenge? Given the amount of interest in a recent post about a family obstacle course challenge held in the area, I’d say a whole bunch of you — and your kids — are ready to conquer some obstacles, get muddy, and have a blast doing it.

You’ll be able to do all of that and then some at the Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race on July 21. The seventh stop across the nation on the series’ tour will be an inaugural one for Washington, DC, as the race comes to the area for the first time. And one of the best things about it is that kids can get in on the fun, too.

For the grown-up crowd, the exhilarating racing series features 5K and 10K off-road courses filled with military-style obstacles, commanding cargo climbs, wild water crossings, and tons of mud. For children ages 4-13, there’s the Adventure Kids series, featuring tike-size obstacles for a 100 yard dash or 1 mile course.

The event also helps raise funds for Operation Gratitude, an admirable charity that sends personalized care packages to military personnel deployed in hostile regions overseas.

The Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race will take place at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland on July 21. Packet pick-up is 7am, and racing begins at 8am. If you register by June 30, cost is $55 for the 5k and $65 for the 10k, going up $5 every two weeks after that. Registration for the Adventure Kids 1-mile race (ages 7-13) is $28 by June 30/$30 after and $20 for the 100-yard dash(ages 4-6).

More information, plus a great video of what to expect for all ages, can be found on the website.