Run off-road in winter and you’ll encounter mud. Some runners will look to swerve it, but not us. We attack mud at speed, embrace nature at its toughest, and play dirty. Time for you to join us too.
Check out our irreverent A-Z and get to grips with muddy running.
A is for Aggressive
Both in terms of your in-run attitude to mud and your post-run attitude to the use of a nailbrush. Trust us.
B is for Bogs
Like swamps, these are best tackled only by experienced mud connoisseurs. Want to up the ante further? Check out bog snorkelling.
C is for Confidence
Show the mud who’s boss. Attack it with confidence or risk it attacking you.
D is for Diversion
Not necessary. Learn to master the mud.
E is for Elegance
Don’t sweat it. This is not road running. Your arms will want to stretch wide for balance – let them.
F is for Fells
The name given to the hills and mountains in our Lake District backyard – the wettest place in England. Notoriously steep and muddy, they’re a playground for mud-loving fell runners.
G is for Grip
If you want to stay upright, wear shoes with aggressive lugs (See L). And yes, size matters. The longer the lugs the more they’ll bite and hold into the mud.
H is for Hose Down
Invest in an outside hose to keep your home – and family – happy. If you have children, allow them control of the hose and watch their excited faces as they hose off your post-run mud.
I is for INOV8
Est 2003 in the muddy hills of Northern England. We live, breathe and sweat this type of running.
J is for Juggernaut
Ignore the advice, hit a muddy downhill and prepare to slide with overwhelming force until something breaks your fall from grace.
K is for Kudos
The Strava thumbs-up friends will reward you with upon posting your run – complete with muddy sock line photo (See S) – to the app.
L is for Lugs
Also called studs or cleats. Found on the bottom of trail running shoes, rubber lugs vary in length and shape. For mud, you want long and pointy.
M is for MUDTALON™
Our best running shoes for muddy terrain with talon-like grip and extra drainage. Built with 20+ years’ experience, these are tried, tested and trusted worldwide.
N is for Nature
This is nature at its toughest, embrace it.
O is for Orienteering
Often navigating off-trail terrain, orienteers are no strangers to mud. Like fell runners, they often have stories to tell of their deepest mud encounters.
P is for Play Dirty
Ditching your devices, awakening your senses and getting outside in the mud – where the real fun begins.
Q is for Quads
Strengthen these lug muscles and feel the difference when you hit the mud. Repeat for calves and hamstrings. Think lunges and squats. Non-negotiable.
R is for Runner's Loop
The lacing technique used to tighten the fit of your shoe and stop it being sucked into the mud. Create small loops on either side and feed through the opposite lace.
S is for Sock Line
Upon completing a super-muddy run, remove shoes and socks and marvel at your sock line. Post immediately to Strava for kudos.
T is for Tractor
Attend a seriously muddy race and risk you and your vehicle being pulled out of the event field by one of these. We’ve all been there.
U is for Uniform
Wear your muddy running kit like a uniform, a badge of honour. Post-run trip to the shops? Expect glaring looks – truth is they’re just jealous.
V is for Vertical
The name of the mud-game is to stay upright, for as long as possible at least.
W is for Wet Rocks
A hidden nemesis often found lurking under mud. Try to spy them before they spy you.
X is for XC Running
Otherwise known as Cross-Country Running, these lapped races can be properly filthy with thick mud churned up by hundreds – sometimes thousands – of runners.
Y is for You Only Live Once
Live life to the fullest (and dirtiest).
Z is for Zero
The number of friends you’ll have if you get farmland muddy. Cow muck best avoided.
