If you're looking for a different thrill, take part in a Mud Run, a wild dash across the countryside. It's probably the dirtiest race in the sporting world and the most fun you can have running. Local mud runs attract participants of all ages and fitness levels.

The entertaining courses of around 5k are mostly through wet and muddy stubble-strewn fields, with a few stream crossings breaking the stride, before a twisting and turning woodland trail including a high embankment and several log jumps bring the runners towards the finish.

The Prumarathon in Schermerhorn, Netherlands, is on the second weekend in July.

A mud run is the one event you don't want to miss. This course will be CHALLENGING! Would you expect anything less from Marines? A mud run is undoubtedly your ticket to the dirtiest, wackiest and most fun event you'll ever enter. You can race individually, within your age division, or as a member of a team.

Choose the "Open" category with no restrictions on attire and footwear, or the "Boots and Utilities" category, which requires regulation military boots and camouflage utility clothes. Shoes are required. Change of clothes is recommended. Clean-up hoses or showers are usually provided to rinse yourself and your outfit.

In the beginning you may feel aprehensive and nervous while you attempt to keep your clothes dry. Ironically, this reduces your confidence and could hold you back.

Once you've jumped into the first mud pit or water ditch, you gain a sudden new confidence. Now that your clothes are soaking wet, you're more relaxed and less worried and move about more sure footed. That gives you a new boldness.

To kick things off, some mud runs start with a fire-truck shower. That's right, all those who forgot to drink their morning coffee can enjoy a cold, "eye awakening" shower from fire-trucks parked at the starting line.

After just a few meters into the run you'll meet up with your first shoe eating mud pit. This is why you should wear tall lace up boots. The course continues on through miles of soggy fields, several mud pits, water pits (with obstacles) and enough mud to make a million mud pies.

A typical mud run consists roughly of 5 km of off-road running, with obstacles, hills, and of course, mud pits. The last mud pit is usually the most challenging because it was covered with ropes and nets. This of course, meant you have to get down into the mud on your hands and knees and crawl under the ropes to get to the other side.

The final obstacle at every event is the famous mud pit, full of water, sand, mud and a lot of fun! This area is consistently lined with spectators to witness the muddy mess.

Teammates go through the mud pit together and must belly crawl below ribbons hung across the mud pit. Failure to crawl on your belly is met with jeers from the crowd. Once teammates finish the mud pit, they must carefully (the mud makes things very slippery) cross the finish line together.

Just after my 16th birthday I took part in a mud run for the first time. I've enjoyed swimming in clothes for years, but this was something completely new. It was awesome! I was so excited!

As soon as I got there, I changed into my running clothes, even though I still had an hour until the race. I put on tight jeans and an orange cotton vest. This left my arms free for the swimming parts.

The ankle high shoes had to be laced up tightly or they would get stuck in the mud. Sport socks should avoid blisters. My two friends were on the sidelines telling me not to stop if I lose a shoe, just KEEP RUNNING!

I couldn't wait to get into that mud in this outfit, but I knew I should wait until the race to get in, so the extra mud wouldn't slow me down! One of the runners who just returned from a race, all wet and muddy, tried to wrestle me and I almost fell into a canal. This left me a bit damp and dirty.

Finally, it was time for the race to start! I ran to the starting line to get in good running position. The track had become wet and slippery during the earlier races.

My heart was pounding. Any moment now I would be in that mud. The horn sounded and I took off running across the wet meadow towards the first muddy canal. I jumped in.

It was warm, squishy and wet! I wanted to stop and play in the mud, but I knew I had to finish this race first. The race went through several muddy canals, some narrow, others so wide I had to swim across.

The banks of the canals were very slippery, so the best way was to just jump in. To get out I had to get down into the mud and climb out all fours. This got me more and more covered in mud. Some of it came off in the next water crossing.

I came in 5th place for boys under 18. After the race was finished, I grabbed my two friends and we bolted back into the muddy water. They've never tried before and were keen get soaked with warm wet mud, just like I did during the race. They really enjoyed it and looked hot with all their shiny wet clothes on. We played in the mud and water for what seemed like hours, until it was time to clean up in the showers and head home.

It was a very fun day. Now I know what it must feel like to be a PIG!

What was it like to run in the mud?
Wow, yes, it was REALLY FUN !!!