Yesterday I did something different and visited the “Land of the Mud People.”  It was sheer madness. 

I was there as an observer.  My flipcam was on as I watched the crazy antics of what appeared to be humans except covered with mud.  Many were covered from head to toe. They seemed to revel in pushing themselves through tests of physical endurance and derring-do, accomplishing these feats in the dirtiest way possible.

Hundreds, actually thousands of “Mud People” both male and female, all converged on this one site on the outskirts of Lake Las Vegas. It was a strange sight indeed. I think I saw more Mud People then I ever thought possible yesterday.  Except they didn’t start out covered in brown terra firma slime.   They started out actually looking like humans of every stripe about to enjoy a pleasant, Saturday morning run on a beautiful, sunny October day. 

All that changed very quickly. 

From the start of their adventure they dashed and within minutes they were plunged into a pit of mud to crawl through to the other side.  Then they would dash several hundred yards where they would climb up and over a wall – yes, covered in mud.  

 Many mere mortals were there to cheer them on to personal victory.  Up over hills and down into pits of brown, primordial ooze they went.  Through a test of strenth and hilarity that stretched over 5k of dirt and glop. These Mud People have good hearts, I understand.  Not only strong enough to push themselves through this dirty deed but compassionate enough to do it to raise money for charity, a hospital that helps human children in need known as St. Judes on earth.   

I was content to watch from the sidelines. I’m built for comfort, not speed or muck. I can walk long distances - just walked over seven miles last Saturday morning – but running and mud?  Not my thing.  I was amazed and impressed with how the Mud People seemed to love the goofiness of it all.

Thousands of  Mud Warriors one after another tested their mettle on a course designed to push each mud person to the limits of what’s possible and how many human orifices can conceivably be filled with muck.

At the end most succeeded. They crossed the finish line and collected their rewards – a medal of completion, a T-shirt, a mug of beer, and, a turkey leg. Guess that’s considered warrior food in the Land of the Mud People.  I’m not saying I limit my turkey consumption to just the Thanksgiving holiday.  But since I was there in the morning – I never considered turkey and beer the breakfast of champions, either.

Okay, the gig is up.  I must tell the truth.  They were not really Mud People, though they got damn muddy as you can see.  They were people who ran in the Las Vegas Warrior Dash 2012.

The Warrior Dash is a race that happens in cities all over America to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and all the good work they do for children who need medical help no matter what their families’ financial circumstnces. 

I was there to support my friend and walking buddy Val Cataldi, a Health Coach as she took on the Warrior Dash for the fun of it. To the right is a picture of Val with her blonde hair, big sunglasses and the mud du jour fashion choice.  Val is a fitness and weight loss success story.  Five years ago she lost 80 pounds and has kept it off. Her clients have lost up to 100 pounds and all have done it while learning how to love and take better care of themselves.

The Warrior Dash is sort of a testament to the fact that there’s no limit to the ridiculous, funny things people will do to test themselves physically and mentally while helping others less fortunate.  It’s billed as “The Craziest Frickin’ Day of Your Life” and if I had run it, gotten covered in mud and swigged beer and eaten a turkey leg I probably would have felt that way, too. 

But when it’s all done to support a good cause – it somehow makes perfect sense and it makes the Mud People and their land not crazy – but pretty wonderful.