Exercise can be an expense of the mind, body, and soul.
For some of us, weekends are for passing off the hangover accrued from the night before. For that other breed, they’re for slogging through a cold rainy morning to reach their step-count. Wherever you stand (or sit) these obstacle courses will get you out of bed and on your feet. [Featured Photo: @theinflatablerun]
1. Terrain Race (March 21)
There’s not much in the way of gimmicks with the Terrain Race 5K in Houston this year. The 3-mile course is tracked with 6-foot-high walls, 12-foot-high rope walls, 16-foot-high cargo nets, and a whole lot of mud. The website alleges that if you can jog a couple miles and do a few sit-ups you can conquer this course. I don’t know — a 16-foot-high cargo net seems a little more hardcore than the handful of crunches I manage at the gym. You be the one to decide.
Where? Three Palms Action Sports Park
2. Shipley Do-Nuts Dash (April 4)
Let’s admit it: the only necessity for exercise is to eat and drink whatever we want without ballooning in weight. If that’s the case, what reason is there not to finish up your run with a couple sticky sweet donuts? The Shipley Do-Nuts Dash is a two-mile run from the BBVA Compass Stadium to the 8th Wonder Brewery, with a baker’s dozen of donut obstacles along the way. If running isn’t your forte, dress up as your favorite donut for the chance to win free donuts for a year!
Where? 2200 Texas Ave
3. The Original Mud Run Houston (April 11th)
Alright, this one gets down and dirty. The Original Mud Run Houston is returning for its 12th year to offer Houstonians the chance to prove their grit through a militaristic obstacle course. Opt for their 5k, which features 20+ obstacles, or go gung ho with their 10K that features 30+ of them. Note, these obstacles are military style — meaning they are not a walk in the park. Whether you do the 5k or the 10, one thing is for certain: there will be mud.
Where? Silverwood Country Retreat, 23235 Margerstadt Road
4. The Inflatable Run And Festival (November)
The Inflatable Run and Festival brings the goods for the whole family and boy do they bring it. Check out a fraction of their line-up: magic shows, coloring stations, bubble station, dance parties, face painting, and, oh yeah, their famous Epic Water Battle®. None of this is to mention the 28,000 pounds worth of inflatable obstacles set up along the 5K for tikes and pre-teens to bounce their way into good health. If you’re a kid, or you got one, this is the run for you!
Where? The Pasadena Convention Center
5. Zombie Charge 5K OCR Houston (November)
Legs feed the wolves, gentlemen. At the Zombie Charge 5K OCR Houston, survival is the name of the game. Run for your lives through this apocalyptic gauntlet of mud and obstacles while eluding zombies chasing at your tail. No, they probably won’t eat your brains, but they will take your flags required to finish, so beware! Or, if you identify as zombie, opt to sign up as one to chase the runners and get done up by a professional make-up artist!
Where? TBA