With oversized dishwater soap suds floating across the grass, it looks clean. Yet it's anything but.
Each winter in the new year, Florida welcomes "obstacle racing season." Our state’s warm temperatures allow event planners to get an early start on mud runs. Yet, the longer you wait to sign up, the greater the expense. Signing up early has benefits when looking to be active in 2014.
"We are very proud to have coined the active entertainment industry, starting off with Warrior Dash,” explained Caitlyin Synowiec with Chicago-based Red Frog Events.
On farm land and cattle ranches, you'll find mud pits, net climbs, rope with electric current running through it, inflatable bounce houses and slides known as "death drops.”
"He must have had a good experience on the death drop. Looking a little tired after that one,” chuckled Foam Fest spokeswoman Lisa LaBanc with Round House Racing.
Most races last three miles and attract folks of all different backgrounds from weekend athletes at Warrior Dash to families at Foam Fest.
"This race (Foam Fest) is geared toward family friendly,“ Lisa said. “We let 10-year-olds run. It's not as hard core."
The attraction to each one of the more than two dozen events planned for Florida in 2014 is deeply rooted in child's play. For every time mom said, 'NO! You can't play in the mud!' Obstacle racing said, 'Yeah. Go Ahead!'
"We encourage people to run in costumes, to get really creative with the way they appear displaying their personalities,” Caitlyin said.
Both Caitlyin’s Warrior Dash and Lisa’s Foam Fest provides team-building challenges that adults normally don't participate in. Trudging through a Florida swamp or climbing over junk cars are the things memories are made of.
"Dream big and great things will happen,” Caitlyin said.
Save $7 on the 2014 Central Florida Foam Fest. Use code AXFFBLITZ2 in the Coupon Code section upon checkout. The coupon expires on Sunday, Nov. 24.