Mud runs have exploded in popularity all over the country among running enthusiasts who are tired of the same boring running routine. However, while these events are a rush, they can potentially be dangerous. Before you sign up for a mud run, consider the following.

Mud runs are army-training-inspired obstacle races that include – you guessed it – lots of mud that participants must run through on their way to the finish line. There are no set criteria across different races, but the courses can include crawling through obstacles, across monkey bars, and even over a pit of actual fire.

While risk of injury is an inherent part of any sport, mud runs may be growing too popular too quickly to be able to keep up with the safety needs of so many participants. Overcrowded courses and lax safety standards are putting people in danger.

For example:

• A 30-year-old athlete died in April of 2012 while competing in the Original Mud Run in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Three women from California, Virginia, and Michigan were left paralyzed after participating in a mud race.
• Three participants were infected with E. coli from contaminated mud after a race in Scotland.
• At a Wisconsin race in 2011, a total of 26 runners ended up in the hospital with various injuries, including a fractured neck vertebra.
• A Texas woman sustained a severe burn injury from a fire obstacle at a mud run near Dallas.
• Another Texas woman was blinded by flesh-eating bacteria at a mud race this year.

Most of these injuries were caused by a seemingly harmless slip-and-fall in the mud.

The exact number of mud run-related accidents is unknown because there is no governing body over mud runs, no publicizing of injury data, and no uniform safety requirements. While participants are required to carry insurance before they proceed, insurance companies are struggling to figure out how to handle the number of claims they are receiving from mud races, and some may even deny coverage for them. Mud runs continue to be popular among young athletes despite the obvious risks.

If you have been injured as a participant or a bystander at a mud run, contact an Austin personal injury lawyer from The Daspit Law Firm to learn more about how we may be able to help you collect compensation. Event organizers may be held liable for negligent safety measures. To begin discussing the facts of your case during a free consultation, please contact our firm at (512) 551-1118.