Sometimes I get asked to photograph a Mud Run. For the uninitiated a mud run is a lunatic endeavour undertaken by people who enjoy fun, mud, challenges, the outdoors, mud, achievement and more mud. It’s a bonkers event that looks like a lot of fun. I say “looks like” as I, naturally, have never run in mud or dived into mud or even worn particularly muddy clothes that much. I am the poorer for that as it definitely looks like people love their mud runs when I watch them hurtling through water and muck from a safe distance with a fast, long lens.
I love the images you can get at a mud run. There’s a freedom and a fun to all the runners you don’t always see at regular running events. People genuinely having fun, knowing this is nuts and they’ll be washing mud out of every crevice (sorry) for a week. Smiles abound, team spirit and camaraderie is evident all over the course. The action can be spectacular, especially when it all ‘goes wrong’ and runners face plant or slide, fall from monkey bars or grimace up a muddy hill. Lots of opportunity for great muddy face photography. I just need to stay away from the splashes.
