Here is one local race that made the news - multiple injuries and a lawsuit:
That’s almost 5 years ago and I’m not sure where this Silverdale is located.
But I only do two types of mud/obstacle races. It’s either a Reebok Spartan Race, which they televise on NBC (immediately following American Ninja Warrior) and Tough Mudders, which are televised on CBS and also sponsored by large companies (Amazon, Guiness, Merrell, etc.). I don’t do the “small-time” races.
You do the “luxury stuff” then. Silverdale is located in a pretty rural area in my state. Not exactly a world class destination. That is the kind of races we talk about - the small rural kind of a race that proliferated like rabbits trying to copycat the evens in which big guns compete. People think “oh, it is a short race through a farm, I can do it for bragging rights.”
This is just one case. There is a ton of other lawsuits out there for injuries and even deaths that happened during all sorts of garden variety mud races, including the trademarked ones.
"I’ve done a “farm venue” too, in the Sacramento area and one outside the San Jose limits. I haven’t seen a pig pen fence, but I wasn’t looking for one either. And I’m still here! "
Sure. But the fact that you are still here does not prove that all mud races are safe for the general population. 
And the fact that you have not crawled through manure does not mean there are no races that have animal fecal matter mixed into the mud. 
You get what you pay for. I also don’t shop at Five Below or dollar stores either. :))
Lawsuits are filed all the time for all sorts of claims.
There are alot of things to be scared of, like just being a runner, bicyclist, pedestrian or auto/truck driver on the street, but a well-run quality obstacle race isn’t one of them. YMMV.
This just in. CNN just reported today that someone unfortunately died in an accident on a ride at the OH State Fair. No more rides at fairs then?
sushi- We get it. You’re tough and a risk taker. Many of the rest of us choose to be more cautious- especially at our ages. I’ve done plenty of tough road races. That’s good enough for me.
I just saw the report on the ride at the fair. I have always been leery of those things so yeah, for me no rides at fairs. I’d rather run that tough mudder with you.
^ Yeah, we draw the line in different spots. I am probably more like sushi and would be worse if I were younger.
I think I am too old for CrossFit, for example, but not too old for some long swims in open water (but no sharks).
I’ll run 30 tough mudders before I eat a corn dog at a carnival!
“This just in. CNN just reported today that someone unfortunately died in an accident on a ride at the OH State Fair. No more rides at fairs then?”
Not a good analogy. Maybe no more rides on that particular ride or any ride operated by that particular operator - if the ride was abnormally dangerous or the operator was grossly negligent - depending on the facts and state law.
I thought an obstacle race might break up @sabaray’s routine, but they’re obviously not for everybody. I ran a half marathon last February and I just find the longer races monotonous. Obstacles break up the running routine for me and keep my mind in the moment. I’m not tough, just different.
@Lizardly I’m a Crossfitter and I do a “masters” program. The program is scaled to my age.
@ohiopublic I loved corn dogs when I was a teenager. I don’t even eat regular hot dogs today.
New running shoes for me today. Yay! I love new shoes.
New running shoes? Do tell! We heart shoes.
I wanted to replace my short distance/sprint shoes that also have a small heel-toe offset (flatter) for lifting weights/box jumps/burpees/rope climbs (crossfit). Light and minimal. A shoe that’s both good for running and good for the gym is hard to find. For example, my Hoka’s and the Topo’s are terrible in the gym. But I’ve found that the Under Armour Slingshot is a very solid compromise shoe.
Awesome. I will have to check those out for the gym rat kiddo! She complained that my Hokas were too stiff.
A good running flat is the Brooks Hyperion and Adidas Adizero Adios. Both low profile. Adidas somewhat stiffer. I would race in these on the track if I didn’t have spikes.
Sushi, that was dangerous info to give me. I am curious about CrossFit but thought I was too old. If there are programs for 55 yo, I’d want to try it at least once. Might like it, might not. (I am generally up for trying something new, but don’t always like it. Bikram yoga was a big dislike for me. I went with a friend on a Groupon. She kept going, but I quit.)
MOWC has the advantage of knowing me in real life and knowing that an obstacle type event isn’t really in my wheelhouse. Races in my area are more the local, at your own peril, potential manure and all! There still is a lot to be said with changing up your “routine” and I appreciate the suggestions for sure.
I just started a year long coaching program on Monday to focus on my diet and fitness. It will definitely be a challenge for me as I will have to try new things - like a weight program regularly. I plan to spend the next year reducing body fat as much as possible, continuing with running, but also doing more weight training to build strength. I want to successfully run a marathon Fall 2018 but I’m looking at it as a project. Wish me luck on that!
My gym was originally a CrossFit gym, but now has modified the program for older people. They are specifically targeting women 50 and above. I did CrossFit for awhile at a different gym. I enjoyed it, but I felt like I was always slowing down the rest of the class. They were very nice about it, but I still felt bad. In my current class, I’m not the slowest - close but not quite, ha. And the instructor is SO patient with me. I can’t do squats to save myself - I always lean forward. I KNOW I’m not supposed to, but that seems to be how my body works. So he’s using boxes, bands, etc. to help me develop the proper form.
I have done Bikram yoga and would do more, if there were a class nearby. Not interested in obstacle courses. Agree with Sabaray on the need for goals.
My current goal is to bench press 120 pounds. Working with trainer 2x a week. I figure that would be a good accomplishment for an old lady ( I am 60-something).
@Lizardly, I’m coming out of lurker mode to encourage you to at least give Crossfit a try if you are interested. I’m 52 and love it. There are women (and men) at my gym that are 68+, and the average age of our members must be at least 45. They key is to find a good gym where the coaches are happy to help you scale the movements (everything is scaleable, but some coaches are better than others at encouraging and helping members to do so). For instance, our gym has 3 levels for each workout: Rx (prescribed weight), L2 (weights slightly lower or fewer reps) and L1 (even lighter or fewer). We are free to choose what level we want to do with each workout (or even choose a different weight), but it’s a good guideline. I sometimes do L1 and sometimes L2. Nobody (except the coaches) cares what anyone else does. We’re all working equally hard – 45 pounds feels just as hard to me as 75 pounds feels to someone else.