I think it was around February when my friend Heather asked me if I wanted to participate in a "mud run" in September.  My almost nine month pregnant self was eager to get out and do some running and obstacles in the mud.  As the date of the mud run got closer and closer, I was a little apprehensive.  What had I signed up for?  I hadn't prepared all summer for a 5K like I had planned on.  Most days I'm too tired to work out, so I don't. 

The Dirty Girl Mud Run is a 5K run with an obstacle course.  So after my husband refusing to believe I would get dirty, a slight meltdown over being away from Katherine for a whole day, and a freak-out about the unknown of the course itself, it was time to run. 

I'll say this, it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I did every obstacle, I did get dirty, and Katherine did just fine being away from me for a day. 

{Glad we got there early.  This was the line to check in.}

{Waiting to check in.}

{Paul Mitchell was there braiding hair.}

{Ready to run.}

{Before.}

{After.}

{See.  I did get dirty.}

We all had a blast playing in the mud.  It was totally worth it. 

Here is a list of do's and don'ts for a mud run:

DO arrive early.  We had to stand in line for a while to check-in after also getting lost trying to find the place.
DO bring a change of clothes, towels, and trash bags for your dirty clothes.
DO wear sunblock.  We spent most of the time in the sun.
DO wear loose fitting clothing.
DON'T wear cotton.
DO wear longer fitted pants.  It will keep you from getting scraped knees when doing some of the obstacles.  I wore capri length work out pants.
DON'T wear new shoes.  They may not make it out alive.
DON'T try to take a 20 minute shower with shampoo and body wash in the "shower area."  You will notice that there are 200 women waiting in line to clean the thick, nasty mud off too.  Rinse that stuff off and get out.  Don't lather up like you're at home.  Geez. 
DON'T bring your nice Coach tote bag with your change of clothes in it.  It will get muddy.  Lesson learned.
DO wear sunglasses (if it's sunny).  It will help keep mud out of your eyes.  (DON'T wear good sunglasses.  I wore cheap ones.)
DO have fun, but DON'T take it too seriously.  It's not a race. 

The real fun for me happened after the run, when my inner "Monica Geller" came out trying to clean my muddy clothes.  They are officially back to normal.  It took hosing them off in the yard, then washing them on "super" load with laundry detergent and OxiClean, then washing them again on "super."  Even my shoes are back to normal.  Oh the satisfaction.