Mud Crusade, Hampton

The course designers behind the Mud Crusade know how to handle a physical challenge. Mark Chmura, a former Green Bay Packer; Chris Watts, a former US Marine Corps reconnaissance officer; Matt Peters, a former Los Angeles police officer and sniper; and John Thomas, a middle-aged dad and carpentry extraordinaire, devised the 5K course to test participants’ mettle by bombarding them with 18 obstacles, including barbed-wire crawls, climbing walls, and mud pits. Like Poseidon during a pillow fight, athletes tackle the course in waves, competing for bragging rights before heading to a rollicking after party drenched in mud, sweat, and good spirits. A portion of the race’s proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which supports wounded troops and their families.