Pendleton Races – Hard Corps Race Series

Did it a couple of years ago, and re-​upped in 2016 after an easy and fun event.
Oh, but how the mighty Mud Run has fallen!
I’ll spare the deets, which are easily found in many other reviews.
Enough to say it’s all about volume sales.

I’ve run this the last 4 years. Something has changed, for the worse. Southbound on the 5 Freeway and about ¼ mile from the exit we came to a stop, on the shoulder, like usual, but this year it took 50 minutes to exit the freeway. People were leaving their cars and walking to Denny’s to go to the bathroom. Other lunatic drivers were, trying, to squeeze by and, almost, hitting, these pedestrians. It took 2+45 hours from the off-​ramp to waiting at the starting line. Normally, this is about an hour. We missed our start time like almost everyone else.
The race and beer garden were its usual fun self, but then it came time to leave. Normally the Marines run their white buses along with the rented yellow school buses to shuttle people. This year they were not using the white ones. The longest I had ever waited to catch a bus to leave was 5 minutes. This year it was over an hour. There is nothing more miserable than being caked in mud, standing in a line that snakes from hear to eternity under the broiling sun and feeling exhausted.
My guess is that some private management company sold the Marines snake oil and told them how they could do it better and make more money. Unfortunately, many are not going to be back next year.
This is/​was a fun event that my whole family enjoyed. The Mud Run supports a worthy cause, Marine families, but it needs to, quickly, return to its roots. The soonest I will return is 2017, presuming, the Unilocal reviews state that it’s been «fixed.»

Where do I begin? This was the 6^th year in a row that I have ran this race. I love this mud run and if this review was strictly for the race and obstacles I would give it 5 stars but this review is all about the planning and organization, or lack there of.
Parking=nightmare
$ 5 to park and get bussed miles away to the race. Getting there wasn’t bad but coming back was a disaster. We waited in a very long line for over an hour in the hot sun to get to the front of the bus line. Why did we have to pay $ 5? Why? They also didn’t not inform us to be aware of the flags which are used to indicate what stop you need to get of the bus upon return. Someone dropped the ball with the parking situation… BIG TIME!!!
Showers=nightmare
I get that we are in a drought, but there has to be a better way to get us clean. They recently installed a large shower area next to the human car wash however this year it was closed. The line for the shower was unbelievably long… Almost an hour!
Course=
The course itself was great as always. There were a few new obstacles and the mud was really thick and sticky this year
In years past this race has always been very well organized and executed. Not sure what happened this year. I can honestly say that I don’t know if I will run next year. I am hoping to receive some sort of communication from the organizers acknowledging this years logistical shortcomings, and their commitment to fix the problems for next years run.

Mud Run was a logistical fiasco!
We followed the directions to the letter, left at 6:30 got to the harbor exit in Oceanside at 7:00, only to wait an HOUR AND A HALF to get through the front gate, it was all downhill from then,
Waited an hour to get on the five buses they had running for 20,000 people +, waited a half hour to check the clear bag, waited another half hour to get the t-​shirt, and waited another twenty minutes to start the race. Not fun at all,
I know all about hurry up and wait, but this was ridiculous, now on to the race, after the three ambulances came back and forth hauling people off the course we finally started, the course itself was not challenging at all.
Run for a quarter mile get lightly sprayed by a hose, run another mile, wait twenty minutes to complete a rather simple obstacle watching people struggle, on to the next obstacle/​long line, got to see many people take selfies of themselves though, had plenty of go pro selfies going on.
The only good part of the race was the near the end where all the actual mud was.
After the race there was another hour plus wait to rinse off in the showers, actually they had two lines, one for just water the other for soap, problem was they had no one telling anyone that .
The whole event was a complete cluster***.
I couldn’t believe being a former Marine that this was so unorganized and unprofessional, won’t ever being doing a Pendleton race again.
Worst time I ever had running a race, and I have run quite a few.
Very disappointing.

For the Camp Pendleton Mud Run…
If I could give JUST the course a rating, it’d be 5 stars. Fun race, lots of obstacles, great energy, good shirts, medals, etc.
But the logistics were a nightmare and knocked this puppy down (I’d give that 1 star, so here we are at an average of 3). I ran this race in 2013 and while the course was better this year (added more obstacles), how they handled check-​in, bibs, parking, etc. in the past was way, way better.
In previous year (s), they had an event there day before where you could pick up your bib and shirt, turn in your waiver. This year, you had to do all of it the morning of, unless you paid $ 10 to have it mailed (just the bib though), or paid some ridiculous amount for VIP treatment. So that means after you parked and took the bus (more that in below) you have to stop at several different booths to pick up your bib, turn in your waiver and get a shirt, check your stuff. All with their own lines. This took us close to an hour, which is a hassle morning of.
Parking. Oy Vey. Last time, it was mostly a free for all, I guess. We got there early, parked and walked about a ½ mile and I didn’t think it was bad. This year, however, you had to park quite a ways away and were shuttled to the race via bus. I’ve been to plenty other races were this is the case (park at the finish line and shuttle to the start) and logistically, this one was a mess. First of all, parking was $ 5 (as opposed to free before). Parking and getting on the bus, wasn’t too much of a pain, since we were there early. We had to wait maybe 5 – 10 mins for a bus. But on the way back — disaster! We had to wait 45 mins for a bus! 45 MINUTES!!! That is way, way too long. The parking and bus route was south of the race course, meaning busses couldn’t cross the street when any runners were passing. So you had to wait for the entire wave of runners to be done before busses could come. And then, they only had 3 busses to move people. For the hundreds of people running, this was not enough. When we got off the bus, there was a volunteer asking if we parked in the American, Navy, or Marine area. All of us were SO confused. I guess there were flags marking the different lots, because the bus drop off wasn’t in the same place as the pickup. But when we arrived, no one told us to make note of the flag/​lot we parked in (neither was it in any email communication) and that seemed to be the case with many participants getting off the bus when we did. It took us over an hour from the time we entered the shower station until we were in my car, which is ridiculous. Somehow they need to figure out a better system.

Amazing race which was challenging but also super fun. I also enjoyed after on the lawn listening to music and having some beer. The wait times for certain things like the shower and bus back to our car was kinda ridiculous though. Nothing ruins a buzz like waiting an hour to get your car and leave. Overall I had a great time and would definitely do it again.

DO NOT DO THIS EVENT!!! I cannot stress this enough.
My review is for the world famous camp pendleton joke of a mud run.
Once you’re on base, your day starts with a 30 minute wait to get on a bus for a 10 minute ride to the start. Then after registering, checking your bag, and getting to the start line you’ve spent 1 ½ hours just getting to this point.
Onto the race. Extremely ordinary. Tough Mudder, Spartan, your neighborhood mud race have 100 times more challenging obstacles and a far better course. 1 «obstacle» was doing 10 push-​ups, another involved you lifting a sand bag over your head 15 times. Those aren’t obstacles. The course is rocky, dusty and lifeless.
So now you’re done with run. You can look forward to a 40 minute wait to shower. After shower, good luck getting any food or beverage without another 20 minute wait.
Ok, you’ve decided to leave because you don’t need to shower or eat, so you walk to buses. Congratulations you’ve got a 1 hour long wait now. After a hot, dirty, lifeless run covered in mud and hungry as hell, they reward you with a big middle finger and say screw you.
Sorry, nothing about this race is worth it. They seem to be stuck in a place that says «we don’t need to change, cause we’re the original mud run.».
Any coincidence that they didn’t sell out any day this year?

Had loads of fun during the Mud Run… As long as this trail is and as many people participate for this event make it a blast each year. The obstacles become more intense and creative each year. For me the home stretch was the best part of the run… I loved crawling in the mud (actually floating-​while my arms did all the work).
Let’s face it… being muddy icky and dirty on a warm evening is the best day. A great experience with my best friend even though she had me looking for her for almost an hour after the race. My advice would be to always have a meeting point at the end of the race and remember Never leave a soul behind… LOL!
Yes I was almost abandoned and I was dirty. LOL!

Mud Run 2014. All proceeds benefits the Marines.
Sign up early, they sold out every year. Prepare to get muddy. You will get muddy.
It’s a fun event to do with a team. Marines are there all along the way to encourage you and to help you so take advantage. They are all super friendly and it’s a great experience.

2014 mud run!!! Amazing organizations!
Read everything on wedsite. Waivers can be filled out there. Allow PLENTY of time for parking and to get up to the actual event. Take off the tickets off the bib for free beer, t-​shirt before the race!!! Make a whole day out of it. Bring lots of cash!!! Food very expensive. Hands up to all marines!

This is for the World Famous Mud Run, which is cleverly disguised under «Camp Pendleton Races.»
Recognize: this is the original mud run, and still the best. While some Harvard MBAs cooked up the Spartan Race, the Muddy Buddy, The Warrior Dash, etc., etc. as cheap to produce cash-​cows, Camp Pendleton is the real deal, on real Marine training courses, not some improvised deal in a parking lot. And it can be damn tough.
I did the run twice about 8 – 9 years ago, before I started getting all full of myself and doing the SD Rock’n’Roll Marathon every year, which takes place on the same weekend. I took a break from the damn marathons this year and did the Mud Run instead.
My, how it’s grown: Buses to get to the start! Carnival rides! Carnival food! And 6 or so wave starts each day over two consecutive weekends.
It’s also tougher than I remembered before. My team opted for the 10K. In addition to the mud pits and struggles over obstacles and up slippery hills, the 10K included runs up very hilly trails through recently burned-​out terrain. Part of the course went through one of the urban-​warfare training areas, where in one of the adjacent buildings, fake smoke, gunfire, explosions, and rumbling tank noises emanated, but not at a loud enough volume to trigger anyone’s PTSD, I sure hope.
Probably the toughest part of the course involved having to crawl or crab-​walk 100+ yards under 3-​foot-​high netting that covered the muck where we used to do a lake crossing. I still have the healing scrape marks on my hands to prove I traversed the gravely places.
Great car-​wash-​like preliminary cleaning stations afterwards, followed by showers, followed by a beer garden and a kick-​ass band.
Good times!

I’ve done about every race involved with the Camp Pendleton race series. This particular review is for the World Famous Mud Run. I’ve been doing this event for 8+ years, and it has really grown into an ‘event.’ This year they had an abundance of vendors for food, drinks, face painting, massages, etc. They also re-​enforced the military aspect through a strong presence of military vehicles, MP’s with guns, huge flags, and various military artillery apparatuses (Howitzer). The post race atmosphere is very fun, and as interactive as any race I’ve run, including carnival type rides, face painting, bands on the big stage, and plenty of things to entertain the family.
As for the course, I’ve become accustomed to the obstacles, there was minimal change, but it was still fun. They did add a few push up stations, and a sand bag lifting area, otherwise it was largely unchanged. Aside from those challenges, you can expect mud pits (obviously!), cargo nets, wall hurdles, spraying fire hoses, mud ridden hills, creek crossings, tube tunnel crawls, and lots of hills. This race is a great endurance test, so don’t show up thinking it will be a breeze, it’s not. They do a wonderful job of providign several hydration stations — thanks to all the volunteers. For me, this has become a fun annual event that I do with my friends. They have recently constructed a fun run for kids, and a 5K, so there is a race for everyone, NO EXCUSES!

When you are encouraged by Marines along the entire course and know that the registration fee goes to the Marines families, how can you not love this race. The race is a 10K but it is no joke. Approximately 4 miles of this race is uphill and it can really hit you if you don’t do your hill training. The obstacles overall are pretty «doable» and I would really recommend doing this as a team. Parking is difficult so do get there an hour and a half early as suggested!

6 straight years… The mud was extra creamy this year, with a slight dirt after taste… and just a hint of awesomeness…

After hearing so much about it, I finally got a chance to do the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. If you do any sort of running events, this one definitely needs to be on your bucket list.
First, the one thing I love about doing events on military bases as that they have their shit together, and here is no different. Once you get through the gates you are directly to a parking spot, then directed to a shuttle bus and then you are at the starting line.
We arrived early and got our t-​shirt and other needed items. Bag check in was a breeze. There were 5 separate wave starts. The first if you were going for time and the rest were more for a leisurely pace. We didn’t get started until well after 9:00am so it was already getting hot.
The course starts out level for the first couple of miles, then it’s uphill for a good 2 miles. Then it’s downhill and back up a mudslide and back down to the finish line. You start with a few mud pits, then a cargo net and most of the muddiest obstacles are near the end including the mud crawl which will completely tear up your knees due to all the rocks they have in the pit.
In the end, you get a medal and a shower. The beer garden had your standard fare of beers and 80’s music.
The only downer would be the crowds. Even though the waves were spaced out every 15 minutes, there were bottlenecks at the first two water stations and a very bad bottleneck at the cargo net climb which resulted in a good 20 minute wait for your turn.
Some words of advice:
— Bring flip flops and extra set of clothes
— Bring sunscreen
— Arrive early
— Don’t plan on trying to reuse your clothes or shoes afterward

Where can you party with your buddies while listening to a cover band called Fan Halen, run a challenging six mile course with hot chicks in compression shorts, feast on kielbasas, turkey legs, and burgers, all while supporting the awesome US Marine Corp? The Fricken Catalina Wine Mixe… I mean the Camp Pendleton Mud Run.
Gandalf and friends had a blast for the second year in a row. Although we ran as a team, Legolas and Aragorn had to wait at the end for the rest of us so we could cross the finish line together. What?! You try running up hills and climbing over walls with a staff as big as Gandalfs! The course can be tough, but there are always comely lasses running the course alongside you as well as marines cheering you on to lift your spirits.
Although Gandalf tires of all the mud in his beard, there are showers at the end to wash it off and all the lasses enjoy when Gandalf disrobes and bares his surprisingly chiseled chest.
We always make time to party on the field afterwards. Tons of food and beer stands. Gimli loves the kielbasas (although not the way Legolas does. SMH, sometimes the way Legolas looks at Aragorn when he eats kielbasas is disconcerting). Foot long, thick, engorged sausage (that’s what she said), served on a toasted bun with grilled onions and peppers. Cold beer. Fan Halen rockin on stage. Warm sun. Good friends. Everybodys chill and having a good time. And all while supporting the Marine Corp. Register early, and come say hi to Gandalf next year. You’ll know me.

*** Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon Review ***
3 words… Hills…Heat…Humidity
Don’t underestimate this half marathon. It’s not your typical race. This will challenge you mentally and physically. You say to yourself, it’s only 13.1 miles, but unless you have the proper training, it’s going to feel a lot more than 13.1 miles.
The 0830 start time for this race doesn’t sound appealing, unless you’re the type of person who sleeps in. At 0830, the sun is already up wreaking havoc on this mostly desert like complex in Area 43.
As for the course itself, they advertised on their website that it’s «90% gravel off-​road,» and well, that’s pretty much accurate. You would think looking at head 500 yards that you find solace on a normal paved road… well you’re wrong… it’s just more gravel.
Maybe the heat and humidity deceives you, thinking that the road ahead is perfectly paved, but once you reach it, it’s like, here we go again. And you would think that you would learn your lesson as see another paved road ahead, but again, it’s full of rocks and dirt. Oh well.
The only thing that motivated me in this race was looking forward to the next water station. And thankfully, these guys were there on every mile. And hoo rah to those guys out there in the hot weather, some of them sticking it out for several hours.
And like I said before… it’s hilly. Especially the one around Mile 2 and Mile 11 on the way back. It looks like a behemoth and definitely a de-​motivating sight. Besides that hill, the rest or just rolling hills with rocks and dirt. Make sure you wear some sturdy trail shoes too.
The organization was great. Plenty of food before the race. Plenty of food after the race. Plenty of water and gatorade throughout the race. No medals though. You do get a tech t-​shirt. And as for the cheering, well there was a lack of it, as the only people found were at the start/​finish line and nothing in between except for the Marines at the various water stations along the course.
Overall, this was a grueling experience. One of the more challenging races I’m used to seeing. I would definitely do this again. Maybe, a little bit more hill and hot weather training would have helped. After all, it’s a pretty cheap race and at least some of the proceeds go to the Marines. Hoo rah.
Note to self: 1:55:09 in 2012.

I have been saying for years that I was going to run the Camp Pendleton Mud Race and today was that day. I left Los Angeles early this morning to make the trip to Oceanside. While driving to Camp Pendleton I loaded up on donuts & coffee you know for the cards=) I followed the directions given to me by the flyer I received in the mail with my BIB # and the directions were perfect.
I arrived at the entrance to Camp Pendleton and being Ex Military I showed the sentry my Driver’s license, my registration and insurance and was let onto the base without problem. The drive from the main gate to the race event was quite a trip. I am guessing it was as described in the flyer 8.5 miles but seemed longer. The civilian and military event staff was everywhere directing cars where to park and where everyone needed to be in order to board a tram and be shuttled to the race starting line/​staging area.
I arrived at the staging area and it was a little confusing. People were everywhere, mass confusion of excitement & panic in everyone’s mind especially those who had never run this course before. I had to find out where I could pick-​up my t-​shirt and drop off my bag in a secured area dictated by the last 4 digits of your social security number by asking people who were walking around but again no problem what so ever.
There were 4 waves of runners. BIB number 0001 – 2200 (individuals) at 9:00am, BIB number 2201 – 4200 (individuals) 9:15am and then teams of 5 runners at 9:30am & 9:45am.
I cheered the 1^st wave of runners on as they took off as a peered up the hill to get a hint of what I was in for, I couldn’t see a thing they had the course well hidden. I got in line and waited for the go signal and I took off. I have run marathons before and I will say that the 1^st 3 miles of this race were TOUGH and totally up hill to Castle Hill and up even further. The course was lined with Marines cheering you on and spraying you down with water hoses. You had to crawl through mud, climb over walls, climb through tunnels, swim, cross 2 creeks, cross a river, climb a muddy hill that was an easy 350 – 400 steps straight up with water being flushed down the hill and people slipping and sliding with nowhere to grab on or any way to avoid those who fell and took out other runners like bowling pins.
I finished with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes; I was pretty stoked with my time. I had run two marathons in the past and my only training prior to running those was surfing the same with this race. I will do it again next year with a new goal time to beat. If you are thinking about giving this endurance challenge a go, DO IT, it was sooooooooooooooooooo much fun.
At the end of the race they had showers and a huge pile of shoes that people were just throwing away. They had a changing area that wasn’t to private but who cares at that point. They had food carts, ice cream trucks and a rock band playing 80’s music. I could not stay for any of that I had to fight the traffic northbound at 12:30 in the afternoon back to L.A. to go to work it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes but that was to be expected.
Thank you to all the staff both military & civilian. The military displays that had everywhere. The Marines along the course keeping everyone’s spirits up and passing out water=)

This was my second year doing this mud run here. It’s a total kick in the ass. We have done it twice as a team event. Teams of 5 is the max. But get several teams if you can and all run together. Its a blast. Its really the only time I can hold my girlfriend under water and everyone laughs. How can you pass on that opportunity?!
You get to the mud pits and its on. Your «Teammates» turn on you like a Pitbull from a bad home. My suggestion is wait until the end when they are all gassed out… then go for revenge. No strength to fight back.
Tips of things to bring:
Great friends
Shoes you don’t mind tossing away
Clothes you don’t give a crap about
A couple of towels
Flip flops
Change of cloths
Sunblock
An extra friend for photo taking
Cash (limited ATM USE) and its all cash basis there
Frozen Gatorade (it will be frosty cold when you are done)
Great event, Great photo ops and all around good dirty fun.

How the hell did that person get in front of me?
There’s no way that person could be that much faster than me. That is, I know I’m not the fastest person, but I know that I’m faster than a lot of others. I also know that running on our team — Kankles United — is broadband compared to that person’s dailup.
Oh! That’s right. Thems be laggers from the individual race that started 30 mins ago HA Someone get that person a GPS and a subscription to Road Runner.
While I don’t think 6 miles is very far — nor am I claiming to be an avid runner, finishing the mud run is one of the best and local accomplishments anyone can ever endeavor. With a little a focus and the Roadrunner on your side, one might even avoid the the Wil E Coyote distractions of hills, slopes, tunnels, mud pits, hills, Marine’s fire hoses, and slow-​ass peeps that get in your way.
The mud run is always a blast. If you finish the race clean, the base Sergeant Major will make you run it again.