May 25, 2013

For those tired of the monotony of marathons and triathlons, obstacle course runs – often filled with mud, fire and a cold cup of beer at the end – are the adventure seeker’s antidote to boredom. But as these races grow in popularity, they are leaving a trail of serious injuries in their wake.

: Nathan George (left) and Fred Forney clear the fire obstacle as they head into the home stretch of a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Athletes run through a tunnel to their next obstacle midway through the course at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: With the finish line in sight, athletes traverse a cargo net obstacle at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Athletes covered are literally covered, head to toe in mud after crossing the finish line. at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Steven Anderson (right) leads a group under the wire and through the mud as they near the finish line. at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Chris Neuman takes a fall while running partner, Kim Howell and he clear the mud pit and approach the finish line at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Exhausted but exhilarated, Dominique Wharton (left) and Chris Mitchell hit the finish line together in with times just under 49 minutes at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Jeff Mitchell (right) and Dustin Callender near the home stretch as they clear the fire obstacle at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Mark Yingling hits the bottom of the “slip and slide” obstacle as other athletes escape the watery pit and move on to their next challenge at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Dustin Buter enjoys his quick trip down the “slip and slide” obstacle during a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: Athletes wait their turn in a valley to traverse a series of wall obstacles at a Warrior Dash in Mechanicsville, Md. May 18, 2013. (Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

: In 2012, competitors swim through mud underneath electrified wires during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor reacts after jumping into a vat of ice water during the Tough Mudder at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, mud flies off a competitor’s shoes as he runs out of an obstacle during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor reacts after being zapped by an electrified wire during the Tough Mudder at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors work to pull a woman up an obstacle where competitors must jump to the top of a half pipe during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor comforts his teammate after she made it through the last obstacle during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor climbs out of a tube during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, mud flies in front of a competitor as he swims through mud underneath electrified wires during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors react as they run through electrified wires before crossing the finish line of the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors crawl through mud underneath electrified wires during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor squints as he gets up after trying to run up a half pipe during the Tough Mudder at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors pull themselves over water along a rope during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor climbs out of a tube during the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor falls as he runs through tires during the Tough Mudder at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, a competitor wears a camera on his head as he competes in the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors embrace after crossing the finish line in the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)(Jessica Rinaldi, Reuters)

: In 2012, competitors embrace as they cross the finish line of the Tough Mudder at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vt. The Tough Mudder is a nine mile endurance event which runs competitors through a military style obstacle course complete with mud, water and fire. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

With rise of extreme races, fun comes with risk
Death and injuries at events like Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash lead to lawsuits
By Carrie Wells, Pamela Wood | Baltimore Sun
May 25, 2013

Mud pits, electric wires, climbing walls and a long-distance run — for most participants, outdoor obstacle races offer a chance to overcome physical challenges and bond with friends, often in a rowdy atmosphere.

But even as these adrenaline-fueled races have exploded in popularity in a recent years, creating an industry with tens of millions of dollars in revenue, some racers have paid a high price.

The April drowning of an Ellicott City man at a Tough Mudder series race in West Virginia was at least the fourth death involving participants at Tough Mudder and other extreme obstacle course events around the country since 2011. And across the nation, participants have been paralyzed, suffered hypothermia and electric shocks, or come away with other serious injuries.

In 2011, for example, two men died after a Warrior Dash event in the Kansas City area; it was canceled after many participants were treated for heat-related illnesses, according to a report in the Kansas City Star. Last year, a Dallas man drowned while swimming across a river in the Original Mud Run in Fort Worth; a lawsuit is pending in that incident.

Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash push racers to extremes

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