From registration to race day, here are some of our more frequently asked questions.
Bib numbers will be emailed to all registered athletes the Friday before race weekend. Bib books organized by last name will be available at Retailer Packet Pickup and Race Day Packet Pickup to look up your (or your child’s) bib number.
A parent or legal guardian is able to pick up their son’s/daughter’s packet for the Adventure Kid’s race.
All race prices and a price increase schedule are available on the Event Registration page AFTER you select your city. You may access that page by clicking here.
You should receive an email confirmation once you have completed your on-line registration. If you did not receive and email, check your spam folder, and if you still do not have an email confirmation please send an email to [email protected] and let us know your full name, and which city you registered for and we can confirm your registration! Or you can contact us.
Both 5K and 10K racers receive an entry into the race, Merrell Technical Tee, free bag check, other goodies from our sponsors including Paul Mitchell shampoo, dog-tag finisher medal, bottle of water at the finish!
All entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable to other athletes.
Yes - you may pick up your packet the day of the race. Please arrive to the venue an hour before your scheduled start time to allow time to do so.
If you have not picked up your (or your child’s) packet, you should allow one hour for parking, picking up your (or your child’s) bib and goodies, and going to the bag check.
If you picked up your (or your child’s) packet on Saturday, you have a little more time, but we still suggest being there 45 minutes early to allow time to park and go to the bag check and get ready to get Down & Dirty!
No, each racer must pick up their race packet and goody bag at packet pick up where they will sign a waiver and show photo ID. No exceptions.
Race day registration will depend on our field limits in each city. We are expecting each race to sell out, so be sure to sign up early! Online Registration will be cut off on the Thursday before race weekend. Please look for an announcement on our website if we happen to be taking race day registration.
The Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud Run Series presented by Subaru is proud to partner with Operation Gratitude - an amazing volunteer organization that sends care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and on Naval ships at sea! Help us support our service members oversees who have committed their lives to making our country safe!
You can also help raise funds for this excellent cause! Build your own donation page, create and join fundraising teams and easily begin your fundraising efforts by clicking here. You can make donating simple for your friends and family and track your pledges online in only a few simple steps. Just use the template, or personalize it by writing your own text. Click to learn how to can join your fellow Merrell Down & Dirty racers in raising funds for a great cause!
You may sign up to be a volunteer by going to our volunteer page and filling out the form, here.
Yes - friends and family are more than welcome to come out and watch the race at no charge. Please check the “Parking” section for each race to check to see the parking fees so your friends and family can be prepared on race day.
There will be great Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud Run Series presented by Subaru Official Merchandise available on race day. Stop by the Official Merchandise tent to check out official hoodies, hats and tech tees to show everyone in town that you got down & dirty! VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Check out pictures of all of the event obstacles here.
We recommend that participants wear shoes that they do not care to have drenched in mud. Because you will be running a 5K or 10K, you should have a dependable pair of running shoes that are supportive. Participants will often duck tape their shoes to ensure they don’t slip off in the mud.
Our goal is to challenge you and push you to your limits with a combination of running broken up by various military style obstacles. The course is designed for people of all fitness levels to enjoy and have a good time. There will be plenty of volunteers at each obstacle to give you a hand if you need it, but be sure to give it your best effort!
There will be a disposable, orange strip timing chip included in your packet, attached to your race bib. You will need to attach this timing chip to your shoe in order to receive a time for the race. Please visit this link to learn how to affix the timing chip to your shoe.
Yes - there will be water stops out on the course, but please be sure to prepare and come hydrated! There will be an aid station about every mile; 2 aid stations on the 5K and 5 aid stations on the 10K. Plus, every racer will receive a bottle of water at the finish line.
Yes, participants can walk the course, there is no time limit to finish the race.
No, there is no time limit to finish the course. Athletes are permitted to walk the course.
Getting Down & Dirty is the whole point! You’ll have to crawl through the mud pit to make it to the finish line!
You will not be forced to participate in anything you do not feel comfortable with. We encourage all participants to compete at their comfort level. There will be plenty of volunteers on the obstacles there to encourage you or help you to the next step. If you choose to go around an obstacle, you will not be able to participate in the award ceremony.
No - the event does not include swimming. Any water crossings are accessible on foot and may come up to about your waist.
Yes! There is a Bag Check where you can drop off your gear prior to the event. Tear off the “Bag Claim Check” tab from your racer bib and affix to your bag with a safety pin. Event staff will sort your bag according to your racer number, and you can claim your belongings later with your bib number. While the bag check area is secure and we make every effort to protect your belongings, MESP, Inc. and the Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud and Obstacle Series presented by Subaru is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please leave valuables at home!
Yes - Additional water and other snacks will be available at the Athlete Refreshments tent near the finish line.
Yes - There will be rinse off stations and changing tents for all athletes to use after the race with Paul Mitchell shampoo to clean you up!
Awards will be given to the top 3 finishers in each division! Please see the Awards page for further details. For award ceremony times, please see the event schedule on your city’s page.
Yes! Participants who are active military personnel or public safety officers can race in the Military and Public Safety Division (non age specific). Contact us at [email protected] for a special military and public service discount!
The Merrell Barefoot Division specially times racers competing in Merrell Barefoot shoes, Vibram Five Fingers, or those who choose to run purely barefoot. The off-road nature of the trails can feature roots, rocks and sections of gravel. If you’re not properly trained, these natural hazards may lead to cuts, scrapes and maybe blisters. You’ll need to meet the below qualifications to be able to race purely barefoot:
Racers must have experience running barefoot on off-road trails
Racers must have 90 days of barefoot training under their belts
Want to learn more about Barefoot running? Visit merrell.com/barefoot for videos, training tips and more. Download Go Barefoot, the Merrell Barefoot training app for your iPhone, free at the iTunes app store.
The race will go off in waves, and there will be various corrals off the start line. If you run a faster mile (6-8 min) please find a spot in one of the first corrals. If you are running in the Military and Public Safety Division, you are also welcome to begin in the wave start. Otherwise, jump in to whichever corral you would like and get ready to get Down & Dirty!
The waves are not divided into male female groups. We have different divisions for males and females so we can time them against the same sex.
Parents are required to accompany their children in the 100-yard Dash and through the mud pit. The start line will be marked with flags and waves will go off by age and gender.
Parents are NOT permitted on the Adventure Kids presented by Paul Mitchell One Mile course. Kids will start at the main start arch and will finish at the main finish chute.
Yes - Brightroom Photography will be at the event to capture every muddy minute! You will then have the opportunity to purchase these pictures after the event.
There are a variety of obstacles located near the main site so you can watch your friends and family get Down & Dirty right near by. The best place to come spectate the race and take pictures will be at the mud pit! The mud pit will be just before the finish line in the main expo site so there will also be plenty of other things to do and check out!
Sure! Check out detailed training program by visiting this page.
Sorry! Dogs are not allowed to participate in the events.
Racers must be a minimum of 13 years old to participate in the 5K and 14 years old to participate in the 10K.