Running a race for charity is a great way to practice running away from an angry grizzly bear or toward a charismatic mountain lion. Keep pace with nature with today's Groupon: for $22, you get one admission to the Dirty Dog Dash on Saturday, September 17 at Hell Survivors Paintball in Pinckney (a $45 value).

The Dirty Dog Dash challenges participants to take on 5 kilometers of rigorous outdoor obstacles and mountainous Michigan terrain in a friendly competition that pays tribute to America’s servicemen and servicewomen. Gather a gaggle of speedsters or fly solo to tackle the race’s endurance-testing hurdles, including fire pits, barbed wire, and camouflaged process servers. Mad dashers who conquer trails and impediments receive a Dirty Dog Dash commemorative T-shirt, a beer ticket (for those aged 21+), and refreshments to refill dry stomach-tanks. A post-race party treats spectators and contestants alike to live music and beverages, as well as awards in categories such as fastest times, craziest costumes, and most mud ingested.

Organized by a former member of the Armed Forces, the Dirty Dog Dash is a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, which raises awareness about the needs of injured service members and provides them with the tools to help themselves and each other. See the Dirty Dog Dash FAQ for more information.