Viraldice: This Is Why People Are Crawling Through the Mud Alongside Their Dogs

new type of obstacle course race is popping up in the UK where dogs can run, climb, and crawl alongside their humans. These look like a ton of fun, (if you're into that sort of thing,) and are sure to be spectacular fund raisers for animal-centered organizations.

Obstacle course races that involve mud are all the rage.

We all have fitness enthusiast friends who swear that these are so much fun. We nod our heads and envy their abs and think that they’re crazy. But maybe they’re onto something?

After all, each year it seems that there are more and more of these races.

People can’t get enough of the combination of running and crawling through mud. They gleefully recount how long it took them to wash the mud out of their hair last time. And they one-up each other about the surprising and sometimes unmentionable places they found mud deposits on their bodies. Fun!

Meanwhile, their dogs sit at home.

The humans are out there running and jumping and climbing and wallowing through the filth. And the canines are all clean and bored at home. Something isn’t right about this set up.

Don't the humans know how good dogs are at mud?

Dogs love mud! And they’re great at it! And you should see the places they get it wedged in their bodies if they try hard enough!

Finally, there is a solution to this horribly imbalanced situation.

Exercise enthusiasts who are also dog enthusiasts, (and mud enthusiasts,) can now participate in muddy obstacle courses alongside their mud-loving canine companions!

These races are taking place in the UK, but chances are this type of thing will be stateside soon. The races are all to raise funds for Battersea Dog & Cats Home which rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes 7,000 cats and dogs per year.