Best Competitions To Get Dirty In Minnesota

Do you want a healthy dose of dirt with your physical activity this summer? Do you want to run through a rainbow of color? Mud and color runs are becoming increasingly popular, and you can get in on the action this summer. Consider checking out some of these muddy or colorful runs, hosted near the Twin Cities and around Minnesota.

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Mankato Mud Run 2013
Loyola Catholic School
145 Good Counsel Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 382-0452
www.mankatomudrun.com

Date: Aug. 13

The third-annual Mankato Mud Run will be held on top of the hill at Loyola Catholic School on August 13. The event features several races, including un-timed 3Ks, timed 5Ks, family events, children's races and company races. The first event begins at 10 a.m. and the final event begins at 2:30 p.m. Proceeds from the mud run benefit local charities. Registration fees begin at $45 and increase as the event nears.

Tough Mudder
Somerset Ampitheater
715 Spring St.
Somerset, WI 54025
www.toughmudder.com

Date: July 20-21

Tough Mudder is considered by many to be one of the most extreme obstacle runs hosted in the Twin Cities area. Obstacles vary from year to year, but in the past participants have scaled walls, crawled through mud pits and swam through underwater tunnels. The event is hosted in Somerset, Wisc., which is about 45 minutes from the Twin Cities. Registration fees begin at $135 and increase as the event nears, and spectators can purchase tickets for as little as $20. Tough Mudder raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

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Oyster The Race
Padilla Speer Beardsley Parking Lot
1101 W. River Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(877) 328-2783
www.oysterracingseries.com

Date: Sept. 14, 2013

Oyster The Race claims to be the originally urban adventure. In this obstacle race, teams of three or more will traverse Minneapolis on foot and on bike in order to find clues and solve puzzles. There are two courses available -- the half course covers 10 to 15 miles, while the full course covers 20 to 30 miles. The full course generally takes four to six hours to complete, and nearly every course contains some type of water obstacle. Registration fees begin at $85 for the full race and prices increase as the race nears.

LoziLu 5K Women's Mud Run for Cancer
Wild Wings of Oneka
9491 152nd St N.
Hugo, MN 55038
www.lozilu.com

Date: June 22, 2013

The LoziLu Mud Run is a women's only 5K hosted in Hugo, Minnesota. The event features water obstacles, mud pits and plenty of running, crawling, climbing and jumping to last an entire summer. In this race, waves of 100 to 200 women start together to complete the obstacle course as quickly as possible, all while laughing, conversing and rocking out to the music of live DJs. Registration begins at $59 and goes up as the event nears, and proceeds benefit those with leukemia and lymphoma.

The Color Run
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
1265 N. Snelling Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108
(855) MOCOLOR
www.thecolorrun.com

Date: July 14, 2013

The Color Run Twin Cities is the only event on the list with a dress code. Runners are required to show up at the starting line in a white shirt, but at the end of the race, that shirt will be anything but white! During each kilometer of the 5K run, athletes are doused in a different color, ranging from pink to blue. The race begins at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and registration fees begin at $45.