On muddy courses, it is possible for someone to have their shoes get stuck into the mud and be forced to run barefoot. However, has any runner actually got stuck in the mud on a muddy course and couldn't move?
On muddy courses, it is possible for someone to have their shoes get stuck into the mud and be forced to run barefoot. However, has any runner actually got stuck in the mud on a muddy course and couldn't move?
Yes, I have seen that happen in some events.
I have lost my shoes twice while running through mud in races. Shoes stuck in the mud and my body just kept going.
Soap seller in SE Portland wrote:
Yes, I have seen that happen in some events.
So what happened to those runners in the race?
A runner? No. A shoe? Yes.
muddycourse2 wrote:
So what happened to those runners in the race?
There are still there, I guess.
Soap seller in SE Portland wrote:
muddycourse2 wrote:
So what happened to those runners in the race?
There are still there, I guess.
And you aren't just talking about the shoes?
the beagle wrote:
A runner? No. A shoe? Yes.
A runner, yes. That happened in a 8k trail race about 20 years ago, one that I worked. The person trapped was a female who just gave up trying to get through less than 1/2 of the way through about 100 yards of sticky, sandy mud. Just nasty stuff. It had poured rain the entire week and super muddy section apparently got deeper than expected. It was one foot deep. Runners who made it through were either disgusted or happy as could be that they had conquered the nasty part.
Anyway, the fairly good female runner just stood less than half way through looking totally exhausted, bent down with her hand on her knees. And seems ready to cry. ... Along came a 20 something year old marine who looked very fit. He stopped and spoke with her. The next thing you know is he has her on his back as he continues through. But she fell off his shoulders ... no arm strength ... and into the mud. He was not deterred. He grabbed her arm and started dragging her across the mud. She did care. She just wanted to get out of that section.
That event was hilarious. There was still a one mile loop to cover that went along a different track. She quite the race. Took water a lot of the water we had for runners, gulped several bottles, and used several more to "hose" herself off. She then wandered off to her car, which was nearby, and she fell asleep.
Now that I recall that race I think part of her problem was too much drinking and staying up too long the night before. (Like Walmsley did at Western States several years ago ... too drunk to run). Drinking and exhaustion and dehydration can cause someone too severely bonk on a run. Tale told.
muddycourse2 wrote:
Soap seller in SE Portland wrote:
There are still there, I guess.
And you aren't just talking about the shoes?
No. Usually some soap makers come a week or two later, scrape of the rotting flesh and take the bones to make some more soap. As we all know, runners like recycling.
Before someone asks why runners did not just go around, the trail section that got muddy was an underpass for a single access road. Concrete walls on along both sides of the trail. Going over was not an option because there sides up the road were rather steep and covered with bramble bushes. Bramble bushes are those that look like you can get through them but the skinny branches are nasty sharp and will cut your skin and tear at your clothes. If you have every tried get through something like that you will understand it was not meant to be.
drag along date wrote:
Before someone asks why runners did not just go around, the trail section that got muddy was an underpass for a single access road. Concrete walls on along both sides of the trail. Going over was not an option because there sides up the road were rather steep and covered with bramble bushes. Bramble bushes are those that look like you can get through them but the skinny branches are nasty sharp and will cut your skin and tear at your clothes. If you have every tried get through something like that you will understand it was not meant to be.
That sucks for the woman. Sounds like a difficult race.
Soap seller in SE Portland wrote:
Yes, I have seen that happen in some events.
Could you tell some stories about this?
Finger Lakes 50K
Most people here are saying they only have seen shoes be stuck, but not a runner
I remember kids losing the occasional shoe on muddy XC courses. Don't recall anybody ever getting stuck themselves though!
muddycourse wrote:
On muddy courses, it is possible for someone to have their shoes get stuck into the mud and be forced to run barefoot. However, has any runner actually got stuck in the mud on a muddy course and couldn't move?
On real cross country course not prima Dona golf courses. Some of the cross courses ive run are thick deep mud followed by an ice/mudbath before back to mud. Seem various people come in with one or no shoes
I just remembered a scene that happened when I was in high school. Me and my friend were racing, and his foot and shoe got stuck in the mud, I don't know if cry or laugh...
I completely forgot that, thanks to making me remember it! Gold years!
Took part in this 5k obstacle race (Devil's circuit). Got in so deep, had to be pulled out by two peeps. Nightmare!
jogger2 wrote:
muddycourse wrote:
On muddy courses, it is possible for someone to have their shoes get stuck into the mud and be forced to run barefoot. However, has any runner actually got stuck in the mud on a muddy course and couldn't move?
On real cross country course not prima Dona golf courses. Some of the cross courses ive run are thick deep mud followed by an ice/mudbath before back to mud. Seem various people come in with one or no shoes
Do people lose their shoes because of not tying their shoes tightly?
drag along date wrote:
the beagle wrote:
A runner? No. A shoe? Yes.
A runner, yes. That happened in a 8k trail race about 20 years ago, one that I worked. The person trapped was a female who just gave up trying to get through less than 1/2 of the way through about 100 yards of sticky, sandy mud. Just nasty stuff. It had poured rain the entire week and super muddy section apparently got deeper than expected. It was one foot deep. Runners who made it through were either disgusted or happy as could be that they had conquered the nasty part.
Anyway, the fairly good female runner just stood less than half way through looking totally exhausted, bent down with her hand on her knees. And seems ready to cry. ... Along came a 20 something year old marine who looked very fit. He stopped and spoke with her. The next thing you know is he has her on his back as he continues through. But she fell off his shoulders ... no arm strength ... and into the mud. He was not deterred. He grabbed her arm and started dragging her across the mud. She did care. She just wanted to get out of that section.
That event was hilarious. There was still a one mile loop to cover that went along a different track. She quite the race. Took water a lot of the water we had for runners, gulped several bottles, and used several more to "hose" herself off. She then wandered off to her car, which was nearby, and she fell asleep.
Now that I recall that race I think part of her problem was too much drinking and staying up too long the night before. (Like Walmsley did at Western States several years ago ... too drunk to run). Drinking and exhaustion and dehydration can cause someone too severely bonk on a run. Tale told.
If she got stuck, she's not a runner.