Unfortunately, the sun did not make an appearance this weekend but that didn’t stop the runners from diving head first into the cold, thick mud pits throughout the course.
I, ran five races coordinated my Terrapin Events and have been overall impressed by the enthusiastic volunteers, well-organized events, and the well-designed courses. Starting with registration and packet pick-up, everything was a breeze. Terrapin Events maintains a very user-friendly website and staffs plenty of helpful volunteers.
During the registration process, you have the option to purchase a hot shower for $5 (totally worth it) as well as a parking pass that allows you to park right outside the festival grounds for $20. For those looking to save a little money, Lee Farms offers a very convenient shuttle bus with free parking located about two miles away. At packet pick-up, there was beer tasting, music, and a solid staff of enthusiastic volunteers getting everyone set up and ready for the race the following day. Arriving at the festival grounds, you are immediately greeted by helpful volunteers ready to direct you to on-site packet pick-up and bag check (which, by the way, is free!).
This was a smaller, less well-known race which attracted a lot of “ first timers”. A lot of the participants I had the pleasure of speaking with told me this was their first obstacle course race and were very excited to do something “out of the ordinary”. In my opinion, The Dirty Leprechaun is a great course to run for your first obstacle course race. The course is rather flat and the obstacles are pretty easy to conquer. There are no heavy carries or obstacles that require runners to carry their own body weight like you would find in some of the more well-known obstacle courses. There also isn’t a huge sense of competitiveness which can be intimidating to individuals who are new to the world of obstacle course racing.
The majority of the obstacles were pretty standard ones you encounter during OCR’s. Wall climbs, mud pits, steep hills, etc. The Dirty Leprechaun and My Muddy Valentine have the same course design so once again, I got to take on the Shoe Snatcher.
A Lot of people use this obstacle to relax, catch their breath, and chat with other runners. Some even challenge their friends or even strangers to see who can chug the fastest. This is a race afterall… At the finish line, runners are rewarded with a medal and a delicious spread of post-race snacks and refreshments. Let’s not forget a complimentary beer!
In conclusion, The Dirty Leprechaun 5k Mud Run was a fantastic event and a great way to try something different for St. Patrick’s Day. This a great event to bring family, friends, and significant others to indulge in some quality muddy bonding time and maybe even spark a new found love for obstacle course racing. I had a great overall experience, met some amazing racers, and got covered in mud and I will most definitely be returning next year for another Dirty Leprechaun 5k Mud Run!