The Mud Running craze has hit big time! Americans will have over 500 mud running events to choose from this year, and together these events will host over three million. Avid fitness buffs and inexperienced couch potatoes sign up by the masses because mud runs provide a unique way to get fit and have fun. If you are just starting out or if you already have experience, the next step is to start developing the strength and stamina. But how do get in shape for such an event?
If you are already familiar with the format of a mud run, you probably know that it involves a running course with obstacles mixed in. So your body needs to be prepared to keep up a pace at moderate intensity as you run through the course and then produce a quick burst of energy to conquer an obstacle, such as going up and over a wall or carrying a sand bag for a certain distance.
So as you plan your training routine, you need to balance aerobic exercise like running with strength training activities like lifting weights. Some people prefer to separate these activities by doing one activity on one day and another one on the next day. But an even more efficient way to train is to combine both types of exercise into a circuit workout. An example circuit might involve doing the following sequence:
*Run for 2 Minutes
Chest Press
*Two Minutes of Jogging
*Chin-Ups
*Run for Two Minutes
*A set of Squats
*Run for Two Minutes
Once you finish these exercises you would relax for a minute or two and then move to the next circuit which could either be the same set of exercises or a totally separate set of exercises.
No matter how you decide to balance aerobic and anaerobic exercise, you need to hit your strength-training with an intense effort. You will only get stronger when you your body thinks that the workout was more difficult than what your muscles were able to do easily. When you give your muscles an intense workout, your body will go to work reinforcing your muscles so that when you do the workout again, it will not be as difficult.
A lot of beginners want to know how much they will have to train. The answer to that question depends the fitness base you currently have and whether or not you want to run the whole way. If you are just staring out, about two months of training should get you ready to run the whole way. But even if you are an advanced athlete, the more training you put in, the better you will do and the more you will reap from the mud run.
If you are already familiar with the format of a mud run, you probably know that it involves a running course with obstacles mixed in. So your body needs to be prepared to keep up a pace at moderate intensity as you run through the course and then produce a quick burst of energy to conquer an obstacle, such as going up and over a wall or carrying a sand bag for a certain distance.
So as you plan your training routine, you need to balance aerobic exercise like running with strength training activities like lifting weights. Some people prefer to separate these activities by doing one activity on one day and another one on the next day. But an even more efficient way to train is to combine both types of exercise into a circuit workout. An example circuit might involve doing the following sequence:
*Run for 2 Minutes
Chest Press
*Two Minutes of Jogging
*Chin-Ups
*Run for Two Minutes
*A set of Squats
*Run for Two Minutes
Once you finish these exercises you would relax for a minute or two and then move to the next circuit which could either be the same set of exercises or a totally separate set of exercises.
No matter how you decide to balance aerobic and anaerobic exercise, you need to hit your strength-training with an intense effort. You will only get stronger when you your body thinks that the workout was more difficult than what your muscles were able to do easily. When you give your muscles an intense workout, your body will go to work reinforcing your muscles so that when you do the workout again, it will not be as difficult.
A lot of beginners want to know how much they will have to train. The answer to that question depends the fitness base you currently have and whether or not you want to run the whole way. If you are just staring out, about two months of training should get you ready to run the whole way. But even if you are an advanced athlete, the more training you put in, the better you will do and the more you will reap from the mud run.
About the Author:
If you want to know more about how to design a training routine, click here for more on Mud Run Training. If you just want a little more basic information about the sport, check out What is a Mud Run?
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