Flip flops can raise your feet above this. Flip-flops are ideal for showers as the base of the shower could be filled with dirty tepid water.

Flip-flops or trainers for after your event.

Lifeventure All-Purpose Soap is great for this and is bio-degradeable as you never can tell where any shower water could be going. Ideal for helping get rid of the caked on mud. You're always going to need to wash down post event and you'll rarely find towels on offer for you at events

Garden refuse sacks are ideal as they don't have holes that muddy water can seep out of. Compression tops are ideal if you wish to race in longer sleeves as they offer a tight fit, which guards against snagging on obstacles while also providing some protection for your elbows when clawing your way through a cargo net.

Ideally run in a short sleeve top or sleeveless vest top which fits close to the body. If you choose not to compete bare chested, pick a top which offers unrestricted movement and is also made of a quick-drying, wicking fabric which will provide a degree of comfort during your event. I've actually seen men wearing long compression style tights from companies like Skins, which are a good option to consider if you're looking for extra warmth for winter and cooler weather races where you are not going to spend a large portion of time with your body immersed in a deep, wet, muddy bog. But its sturdy, close-to-the-ground design helps deal with most trail conditions well for a good overall race performance.Ĭonsider shorts made from quick-drying and very lightweight fabrics such as Nike's Dri-Fit fabric or New Balance's excellent Lightning Dry fabric, which will not hold an excess of water and chafe heavily leading to extreme discomfort and eventually sores. Their tread pattern isn't quite as aggressive in the mud as some of those featured above. This makes them an excellent choice for summer trail running and drier events. Saucony Peregrine 3: The Peregrine 3 from Saucony offers a lightweight trail racing shoe for runners looking for a shoe which can integrate between trails and some hard-packed trails and asphalt.You'll see loads of runners in these at Obstacle Racing events as they're a versatile training shoe that doesn't need to just be saved for race day. Can be picked up on the internet for around £30 / 50 USD if you shop around. Adidas Kanadia TR5: A great trail running shoe for the budget conscious with an aggressive sole to help propel you through the mud whether it's the middle of summer or in the depths of a British winter.The Mudclaw 265 is a choice of many for short to middle distance events but the additional support of the 300 provides more comfort and less stress on joints. The Mudclaw 300 is designed with loose and soft ground in mind and features a little more cushioning than the more aggressive X-Talon making them a better consideration if you're worrying your joints may suffer with an ultra-lightweight shoe. They're designed as the ultimate fell running shoe and if you've ever seen a runner tackling the tough fells of the English Lake District you'll start to understand the extreme demands these events put on a runner. Inov8 Mudclaw 300: The trail shoe you would want for muddy conditions is the Inov8 Mudclaw, whether you're sprinting uphill or letting your legs do the work on a slippery downhill.For many top OCR athletes, the Inov8 X Talon is their weapon of choice for races up to half marathon distance. The sticky rubber compound mimics that used in climbing shoes so you should never feel wanting for grip despite this shoe being designed as a lightweight trail racing shoe. Featuring copious amounts of grip for when you're wading through a muddy stream or need to really grasp that climbing rope with your legs for extra leverage. Inov8 X Talon 212: A great lightweight do-everything trail and fell running shoe.Featuring an aggressive sole (as pictured right) you should never be wanting for grip. Salomon Speedcross 3: A trail running shoe with a sole designed to shed mud and keep you going through the gloop that can really sap your energy.Grip in the mud is a key need for many obstacle course events. If you're looking to get some shoes to master the brutal conditions then the following are five great trail running shoes to consider. 1 / 5 5 Trail Running Shoes for Muddy Events

Spartan race gear recommendations