Mighty Mud Dash, Houston

Clean running clothes have no place at Mighty Mud Dash, a 5K-challenge course that beckons runners of all fitness levels to plunge through stretches of mud in search of glory. Friendly competition is encouraged as waves of runners forge a path through more than 20 rugged, slippery obstacles—including wall climbs, cargo net-covered crawls, 30-yard mud-filled trenches, and a sprawling tarp slide.

Though the main race is only open to competitors age 14 and older, a scaled-down 100-yard obstacle dash welcomes children as young as 6 to test their agility and endurance. After the competition, participants gather for celebration and music at the post-race party, where they can rinse off or roll all over an expensive white velour sofa to a soundtrack of upbeat tunes. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefit the work of Boot Campaign, a national non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating awareness, promoting patriotism, and providing assistance to military personnel past and present and their families.