Most sports leave their participants in need of a shower.
However, one event last weekend took the uncleanliness of athletics to a new level.
Yet again, the famed “Dirty Dash” returned to Straddleline Raceway near McCleary, as the thousands of participants lived up to the event’s name last Saturday.
Essentially a running obstacle course with tons of plentiful mud, the Dirty Dash allows fitness freaks and weekend warriors alike to have fun, compete and get a unique workout in.
Walking up to the Dirty Dash, one feels like they’re entering a festival rather than a “race”. Energetic music and a personable ‘MC’ engage and ignite the crowd, while a beer garden and food vendors provide nourishment to the spectators and athletes alike.
“To describe it, (it’s an) absolute blast,” said Sara Colson, a first time Dirty Dash participant. “It’s full of laughter, physical triumphs and great entertainment – all while playing in the mud and getting dirty. Who wouldn’t want to do that?!”
Instead of waiting nervously to begin the course, runners are encouraged to play ‘tug-o-war’ over a muddy, water filled pit. Costume clad teams, siblings, family members alike all challenged each other in the classic game of strength, and in most cases, winner and losers both came away muddy and wet.
Other pre-race activities include contests revolving around chugging a cold ale, soft vs. thick beards, and who can complete the most pushups in front of the crowd.
Laughter and smiles, not hunching over and heavy breathing, are the end results at the Dirty Dash.
“It’s just not like many other running events,” said a participant who insisted to go by ‘Maverick’, possibly due to his aviator sunglasses. “You have to come to it to believe it.”
The 3.5-mile course includes obstacles such as a bounce house, logs, slippery hills and a giant mud pool right at the finish line. By the end of the race, participants are as dirty as you would expect, though you wouldn’t know it from their facial expressions and overall mood.
Following the completion of the course, participants can shower the dirt away at a designated cleaning area. Then, it was time to watch others undertake their own shot at getting dirty
“The whole time, I just kept thinking to myself how much fun this is,” said contest Riley McKillop, a first time participant. “The weather is great, atmosphere is awesome. This is an event where everyone can come together and have a great time.”
It appears one of the main perks of the ‘Dash’ is the crazy costume attire. Elvis was certainly in the building, as were deeply painted blue Smurfs. Other costumes included business suits, color coordinated bathing suits, overalls and for the less creative, plain shorts and a t-shirt.
It certainly was an event for all levels of fitness, an aspect that Colson enjoyed.
“People ran and people walked. People helped each other through the amazing course and just let loose,” she added. “This was my first event of this kind and I will definitely be doing it again next year!”
The South Sound is one of twelve locations to host a “Dirty Dash” this summer, with Spokane and Eugene the only two other stops in the Pacific Northwest.
Asked if they would be back again next year, ‘Maverick’ and McKillop both responded quickly.
“Definitely, said McKillop. “It’s a change from the norm, and for us who are competitive people, we need to come and participate in more of these events and just have fun.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Maverick noted. “As long as they keep having it, I’ll keep showing up.”
For more information on the South Sound Dirty Dash, visit www.thedirtydash.com. For additional photos, click here.
