Thomas Alan Smilie
written into our DNA
since the dawn of humankind. Children know it instinctively, without even being taught or guided. Mud. Is. Fun. Playing in the mud is the cleanest, filthiest fun one can have, and the child inside all of us never forgets this. Whether it’s a repressed longing to charge outside in the rain and taking a dive down a muddy hill, sprinting through an ankle-deep, 50-yard-long mud puddle splashing everyone in the vicinity or crawling up the slippery slope of a minimud-mountain—we all remember the joys of mud deep down inside us. The muddiest and funnest event of the year
will be on Camp Hansen on Sunday, April 9. This doronko (Japanese for mud race) consists of a 5K or 10K jaunt through mud trails and obstacles in the jungles of Camp Hansen. The event is open to participants island-wide. If you’d like to test your strength on the notoriously brutal course, register for the competitive 5K or 10K race for individuals. Awards will be given to the top three male, female and team finishers. For those wanting to savor the mud, there will be 5K and 10K waves in which the only competition is for the most spectacular spill for immediate uploading to social media. The entry fee for both the competitive and non-competitive 5K and 10K runs is $35 per
Keep it Fun: Safety Tips | 3 How to Prepare: The Key to Winning | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5 Good, Clean Fun: A Race for all Ages | 7
Register for the 2017 Camp Hansen World Famous Mud Run at mudrun.jp or any staffed MCCS fitness center by 4:30 p.m. April 3. person. The 10K team race fee is $90 per threeperson team. The 3K for youths 9 to 14 and the 1K Kids Challenge for children 5 to 8 are $10. For more information about the Camp Hansen World Famous Mud Run, contact Semper Fit Athletics. English: 645-3521/3522. Japanese: 098-970-3534.
Photo of the Week | 7 Mud Run Must-Haves | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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keep itfun
T
he Mud Run is a fun event for all—but as with any physical activity, there are inherent risks for injury, even for the most athletic individuals. Here are a few tips to make your Mud Run experience as safe and enjoyable as possible: Stretch before and after the race. While most people typically limber up before races, it can be just as important to stretch afterwards. Don’t skip it. It will help with walking for the rest of the week. Drink up. And no, we’re not talking about mud pit water. Hydration is especially important in the midst of Okinawa’s humidity. Your body will be losing more fluid than you may realize. Hydrate before, during and after the race. Don’t jump into the mud feetfirst. While the top layer may look like a giant water puddle begging to be splashed, the bottom layer is muck so thick that it may claim a shoe. If you jump in with too much force,
Safety Tips
you might find yourself stuck ankledeep in what feels like drying cement. Don’t eat the mud. As difficult as it may be to resist, try to avoid getting too much mud on your face or into your mouth, nose, ears or eyes. Though the risk is low, enough mud entering your system (in whatever manner you let it) can cause illness. The Department of Preventative
Medicine at the USNH tests the water before the race to ensure it is at safe levels. The Semper Fit Aquatics’ staff also chlorinates the mud-water to the same standard as their pool water. If you would like to learn more safety tips, contact the Department of Preventative Medicine at 624-6231 or your healthcare provider.
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Thomas Alan Smilie
No Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Community Services endorsement of commercial advertisers or sponsors implied.
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howtoprepare
phrase of the week
S
Doro-pakku
Mud facial
Thomas Alan Smilie
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs–Resources at 645-2104/2106.
The Key to Winning
o you’ve decided to do the Mud Run but is your body ready? Whether you compete in the races or enter for fun, both present physical challenges. It’s true the Mud Run is an event for people of all ages and skill levels, but if you want to rule the battleground of brown, training is optimal. The Mud Run takes you through Okinawa’s dense and sludgy jungle. Some cardiovascular fitness will go a long way. If you want to improve your running in the meantime, the best way to do it is to just run more. Cross-training cardio work, such as biking, swimming or rowing, is also beneficial to your running programming as it is a low-impact way to increase your cardio and muscular endurance levels. Many participants of endurance sports make the mistake of neglecting strength training. Conditioning your fast-twitch muscles through resistance training is equally as im-
portant as working your slow-twitch muscle fibers through endurance exercise. To ensure the best, injuryfree performance from your body, include some weight training to balance out your muscular fitness. Finally, nutrition is the most important part of any sport. If you don’t provide your body with the proper fuel, it will not function to its full capacity. For an endurance event
like the Mud Run, remember you will probably be fine without a fullon carb load, but a well-balanced breakfast of carbohydrates, fats and protein will take you a long way. As always, check MCCS Health Promotion offerings at mccsokinawa.com/healthpromotion for FREE fitness assessments, classes and more.
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MUD
Good,clean, Fun
fact
smarter
Mice fed with mycobacterium vaccae, a bacteria found in mud, are able to navigate a maze twice as fast as they could before ingesting the tasty performance enhancer. Human trials have yet to be conducted, so eating mud prior to race time is not recommended, nor is it guaranteed to afford you a better race time.
A Race for all Ages
W
hile the adults are getting down and dirty at the Camp Hansen World Famous Mud Run, the kids will compete like kids—with good, clean fun at the 1K Kids Challenge. Their challenge is to run through an obstacle course with no mud because, contrary to popu-
lar belief, consumption of mudpies is not good for growing boys and girls. The kids will jump, climb, duck and run through obstacles like a wall climb, cargo nets, hurdles and beams. While the kids course features grass terrain, the 3K race for older children is more intense and
Top:Thomas Alan Smilie; Bottom: UMUC
photo the
Everybody starts the race on their feet. All don't make it out the same way.
includes a trudge through a mud pit. The 1K Kids Challenge is open to kids 5 to 8 and the 3K Kids Fun Run is open to kids 9 through 14. Both events cost $10 per child and are open to children island wide. Register now at mudrun.jp or at any staffed MCCS Fitness Center.
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spot
details
B
Clockwise from the top left: Yastremska/bigstock.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
Register now! The first 4,500 to sign up receive a t-shirt, towel and medal.
Mud Run Must-Haves
efore you set out for the Mud Run, make sure you have everything you need. Here’s a list of a few essentials: The Right Shoes: Having the right shoe for the job is most important— meaning they should fit well, have strong tread, and a breathable upper that will drain water and mud quickly. Some companies such as Inov-8 and Merrill offer several models of mud run shoes. Conversely, it is illadvised to duct-tape your shoes as it leaves a slick surface on the sole which can lead to slipping. The Right Outfit: Besides the right kicks, avoid cotton tops, bottoms and socks. Cotton will do nothing but absorb all the mud you touch and weigh you down. Same goes for pockets. Instead, aim for something synthetic and light, like a running top, compression gear or bare skin. The Right Extras: It’ll be a good idea to bring lots of towels and a gal-
lon or two of water to rinse off. Baby wipes are great for a final once-over to get all the grime off, and Q-tips are handy for mud that gets stuck in your ears and nose. A fresh set of clothes and some bags to separate your muddy clothes as you transform from a mud warrior afterward will be most helpful.
The Right Buddy: It’s not as much fun to run alone, you may want help with some of those obstacles and in case of injury you’ll have backup. Find someone with like-minded preparation and priorities about the race such as hilarious costumes, competitive run time or just to get as down and dirty as possible!
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adventure begins here Whale Watching Tour* March 4 & 5, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Adult $50, Children (4–11) $35 Watch the mammoth-sized creatures surface around the Kerama Islands on their journey to warmer waters. Head to Kokusai St. for lunch and shopping afterwards.
Azalea Festival and Rose Garden* March 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $24, Children (3-11) $14, Children (under 2) FREE The flowers are in bloom on Okinawa! Enjoy a beautiful day at the Azalea Festival and a picnic in the park.
Pizza in the Sky & Nakijin Castle* March 4, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $23, Children (3-11) $16, Children (under 3) FREE Visit Pizza in the Sky, located in the hills of Motobu Village. Enjoy the beautiful ocean view along with a delicious pizza and salad. Afterwards, stop by Nakijin Castle to learn the history of the Ryukyu Islands.
Urashima Dinner Theater* March 10, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Adults $68 with half lobster, Adults $54 without lobster, Children (4-12) $38, Children (under 4) FREE no meal Savor the varied flavors of Okinawan cuisine while being entertained by traditional music and dancers. Choose from Okinawan or American menu when you purchase your tickets. The tour price includes dinner and show.
*Bring yen for additional food, drinks and/or purchases. For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster 646-3502 | Camp Hansen 623-6344 | Camp Kinser 637-2744
events
get out and explore Azalea Festival March 3–20, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Azalea Park, Higashi Village Adults (15 and older) ¥300, Children FREE
Athletics/Adult Sports
Top to bottom: desertrosestudios/bigstock.com, meisterphotos/bigstock.com
645-3521/3522
Aquatics 645-3180 Courtney Ironworks 622-9261/7297 Futenma Semper Fit 636-2672 Gunners Fitness Center 645-3985/2235 Hansen House of Pain 623-5558/4831 Health Promotion 645-3484/3910 Kinser Fitness Center 637-1869/1114 Schwab Power Dome 625-2654/2442 Taiyo Golf Club 622-2004 Tsunami SCUBA 645-9500 Youth Sports 645-3533/3534
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Okinawa Championships March 4, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Okinawa City Budokan (Martial Arts Gym), Okinawa City FREE
Okinawa Zoo Flower Festival March 2–20, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Okinawa Zoo, Okinawa City Adults ¥500, (13–18) ¥200, (4–12) ¥100, (under 4) FREE
upcoming events Southern Camps Commander’s Cup Basketball Tournament March 10–12 Camp Foster Fieldhouse Eligible units may register at any MCCS Fitness Center by March 6 at 1 p.m. The top two teams will receive awards. Details: 645-4866.
Flag Football March 10-12 Camp Schwab Power Dome Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by March 6 at 1 p.m. for $120. This event is open to participants islandwide. The top three teams and individuals will receive awards. Details: 625-2654.
of week Sunrise Yoga Start your day with a series of balance, strength and flexibility poses and movements that will connect your body, mind and spirit. Camp Foster
For a full class schedule and times, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.