Adding to our list of obstacle races is the Warrior Dash. Based on a very short and unscientific poll I made, this seems to be the most well known adventure race. Although the Warrior Dash brands itself similar to the Tough Mudder, the Warrior Dash is really much more similar to the Mudathlon or the Spartan Race.
Warrior Dash Obstacles
This 3-4 mile obstacle race boasts almost 30 locations around the U.S. and is expanding fast. While each location has a variety of courses and no two races are the same, there are some staples obstacles that will conveniently show up no matter where you are.
1. The Great Warrior Wall
Grab a rope and start climbing! This 10+ foot wall has a few footholds, but just grab the rope and haul yourself up. Once you get to the top, you need to figure out a way to get down (besides falling). This obstacle takes longer to get through than others, so if there’s a line just sit back and enjoy watching people do things in the name of an obstacle course.
2. Warrior Roast – The Fire Pit
Fire in the middle of the course. Yea, that’s right. As you enter the final stretches of the race, you’ll see a few strips of blazing fire. The only way to get around them is to hurdle them like you’re in a high school track meet. Actually, to be fair, if you really want to go “full-Warrior” you can take off your shoes and walk right through it like a boss – just don’t blame us if you get burned!
3. Muddy Mayhem – The Barbed-Wire Mud Pit
At the end of most races, there is a barbed wire mud pit. A section at least 30-50 yards long of 2-3 feet deep of glorious mud. On top of that, there’s real barbed wire suspended about a foot over the actual mud pit. This means – you got it – that you are guaranteed to come out of this thing soaked with mud if you somehow managed to get through the rest of the race completely clean.
Once you’re through, grab a banana and water while you rehydrate and head over to the celebration area. There, you can grab yourself a turkey leg and pick up your free beer and really start celebrating like the true Warrior you are.
If you’re new to obstacle races, the Warrior Dash is a great way to get started. If you’re a veteran, it’s a good excuse to get outside and do a 5k in an unconventional setting and have some fun with your friends. However, if you’re looking for an obstacle course that’s a different level of challenge, you’ll probably want to check out the Tough Mudder.
Happy Mudding!
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I ran Warrior Dash this summer and it was awesome! If you’ve never done it, it’s a must. Plus, you celebrate at the end with live music, beer and a turkey leg. How could anyone say no to that?
And like you said, t’s great for beginner mud runners. Only 3 miles and anyone in fairly decent shape should be able to muscle through.
Next summer, I’m graduating my mud running to Tough Mudder. On average, 78% of Tough Mudder entrants bail. So I like my chances. 😉