By Krystle J Bailey
Your First Mud Run, an obstacle race designed for family participation, hits the Wildwood Beach this September. Created by Brad Vaccaro in 2011, Your First Mud Run is uniquely designed to offer a fun race experience to athletes of all ages and experience levels. With 16 obstacles, including the inflatable “Twin Peaks,” “Rapunzel’s Climb,” and “The Fly Trap,” this run is created for entry-level fun for the whole family.
Vaccaro saw a need for simpler obstacle-style races than were being offered prior to 2011. His girlfriend had recently run Spartan Races and Warrior Dashes as a competitive runner. Brad, an athlete and track coach himself, had no problem participating in these challenging races; however, when he asked his friends to join, he was often met with hesitations about athletic training and injury.
As a solution-oriented entrepreneur, Vaccaro decided to create an atmosphere of athletic fun for everyone, from kids to adults, regardless of their fitness goals or abilities. That wasn’t enough for Vaccaro, though, as he was inspired by his late father to make his events as meaningful as they were memorable.
In support of the local communities where runs are held, Vaccaro invites participants to raise money for the foundation of their choice. With an average of 425 participants per run, Your First Mud Run has donated over $100,000 to 300+ charities in the last 12 years.
This year, Vaccaro and his team hosted ten total events up and down the East Coast from Staten Island to Boca Raton, Florida. What began as an endeavor to get his friends moving and having fun blossomed into a business that now hosts thousands of participants, from kids to adults.
Your First Mud Run obstacles are challenging but feasible obstacles designed so that anyone can do them, from simple mud pits to inflatable tubes and the $10,000 Gauntlet obstacle made of aluminum truss.
The Wildwood run is scheduled for September 10, beginning at 8:00 am. The course takes place on the beach and includes a unique obstacle designed only for YFMR beach races. Your First Mud Run races are not timed, as they are created solely for runners to have fun and get dirty. Those new to obstacle races who don’t feel confident in any specific challenge are invited to skip it and move on to the next one. The competition-free run invites anyone who has considered an obstacle race to something new and create a day of memories with the family.
Shore Local readers receive $5 off registration. Use code SHORELOCAL at yourfirstmudrun.com to sign up.
Krystle J Bailey is a published author, multimedia journalist, copywriter, and content creator. She is a regular Shore Local columnist and digital contributor as well as the booking agent and co-host of the radio show Joe’s Table for Two on WOND. Krystle can be reached at KrystleJBailey@gmail.com
