Competitors are set to wallow in gallons of glorious mud on their way through an audacious obstacle course. A bumper field of more than 2,700 competitors are preparing to take part in the annual JCB Mud Run.
Those who take part can expect a dirty great challenge, a fitness boost and a healthy donation to children's charity the NSPCC. The sixth annual mud run raised £55,256 last year – bringing the grand total raised for the charity since the event started in 2012 to more than £230,000.
Entrants from across the UK will descend on the area round JCB's Rocester World HQ for this year's event on Saturday, July 1. And time is now running out to register to take part, with entries closing on Friday, June 30.
A JCB spokesman said: "A record number of competitors has already registered to take part in this year's JCB Mud Run which promises to be the biggest and best so far."
The event had humble beginnings, attracting just 500 runners in its inaugural 2012 event. However, it has since grown in popularity exponentially. The flagship race has now become an annual fixture in the calendar, attracting thousands of competitors and spectators.
Entrants will run through woods and rivers, scale a huge wall, climb through cargo nets and clamber over hay stacks and monkey bars. In total there are more than 35 obstacles over an 8km course.
For the second year running, the JCB Mud Run is a silver affiliate of the Obstacle Course Racing Association UK (OCRA). Following the success of 2016, the JCB Mud Run will be hosting an OCRA UK qualifying race once again.
Entrants for this will take on an extended 10km mud run course and more obstacles. Those who wish to take part should go online and visit www.thejcbmudrun.co.uk to register their interest by Friday, June 30.
A JCB spokesman said: Our chosen charity, the NSPCC, will once again be at the heart of the event and the beneficiary of your messy antics."Last year we raised a whopping £55,000 and we'd really love to do the same this year – or just a bit more perhaps?"
