Kansas City, YOU’RE NEXT!

This past fall, we went bonkers in Boston.  We brought our A-game in Atlanta.  And we slid through St. Louis.  And now we are excited to announce that Kansas City—YOU’RE NEXT!!

Ruckus is making its way to Kansas City on April 6, 2013 (you only have a few months to get in Ruckus shape!).  The KC obstacle course, with plenty of gorilla bars, air loops and cargo nets for everyone, is one of our messiest ever and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it.

Registration for Ruckus Kansas City is now open.  Register before February 15 to receive a special, early-bird price of $60.00 (Ruckus Heater) or $75.00 (Ruckus Challenge).  A price increase will go into effect on February 15—so register now!

And remember—Ruckus Kansas City isn’t just for avid runners.  It’s for families and for people who love to have fun and get some exercise!  Bring the kids and have them participate in our famous Ruckus Mini.  Ruckus is the perfect way to spend some quality, muddy outdoor time with your friends and family.

See you in KC!

Ruckus St. Louis Sets Record for Most Shoes Donated to Barrel Aid

I’ve never had an experience quite like this before. 

I’m being dunked multiple times in thick, cool mud.  I’m balancing on swinging ropes.  I’m climbing up muddy walls.  I’m sliding down Mount Ruckmore.  And finally, I’m gently being placed on a tarp with other mud-stained friends.

Yes, I’m a shoe, and yes, I survived Ruckus St. Louis with you.

At first, I was upset that you gave me away.  After all, we’ve been through a lot together—the cool nightly runs, the endless treadmill jogging, the intense agility training.  Through it all, I have stuck by your side.  And to hear that you were giving me away after one of the most chaotic mud runs of our lives made me feel sad and a bit betrayed.  But then I learned about where I was going.  And now, I’m happy.

Because of your big heart, you decided to donate me to an organization called Barrel Aid after we competed in Ruckus St. Louis together.  I have quickly learned that Barrel Aid donates used muddy shoes (just like me!) to schools in Haiti.  And now, 381 other pairs of shoes and I are headed to Haiti to make the world a better place.

Not only are we doing some social good, but we are breaking records too!  My 381 new friends and I broke a record during St. Louis Ruckus—it was a record donation for Barrel Aid!  I would give you a high-five if I could, but I don’t have hands.  Instead, I’ll just smile and drive away with my new buddies and reminisce on the memorable Ruckus experience that you and I shared—even though I was completely blinded the whole time with mud.  

Thank you for donating me, you Ruckstar.  After sticking by your side, I am looking forward to making a difference in someone else’s life now.  Good luck to you—and good luck to the next pair of shoes you decide to put through the ringer!

Follow Ruckus on Twitter! @RuckusSports

Boston, are you up for the challenge?  Let's see if you can beat St. Louis's shoe donation to Barrel Aid!  Bring it on! 

Congratulations to our Facebook Photo Contest Winners!

We were overwhelmed by the crazy, muddy and downright hilarious pictures that you all submitted for the Ruckus St. Louis Facebook Photo Contest.  We’ll be honest—choosing just 5 winners was a challenge!  But we have narrowed down our top 5 pictures and are awarding our winners with a free registration to Ruckus St. Louis 2013:

Josh Foster: Starting them out young...3 year old Ruckus. I was told he did the Mini ~25 times! 

Kelly Lepert: This is a "before" photo of the Tootoo girls of St. Louis for the Photo Contest. 

This is the is the "after" photo of the Tootoo girls of St. Louis for the Photo Contest. Notice they are still friends!

Lara Embree: Team Ruckin' Awesome rocked the Ruckus. It was the first time for all of us and we all finished! We love the mud and can't wait until next year!

Alex Paz: Photo Contest: Midwest Viking member Kevin Johnson washes the mud off of team mate Janice Gibbs Brown to reveal a fitting quote.

Niki Hoerner Gomez: My favorite part of the Ruckus is seeing the smile on my sons faces when they finish the mini! (4 yr/ 2 yr)

How can you claim your prize?  We will contact you via Facebook message with information about how to claim your free ticket to Ruckus St. Louis 2013—so check your Inboxes!

A huge thanks to everybody who submitted photos into the Ruckus St. Louis Photo Contest—we hope you cherish all the muddy memories.  Until next year, St. Louis...

Follow us for more information! @RuckusSports

Here’s What You’re In For: A Sneak Peek of the Ruckus St. Louis Course

When we said that we’re obstacle-running, wall-climbing, mud-throwing athletes, we weren’t kidding.  That’s why we’re bringing St. Louis our muddiest, craziest, most downright adventurous obstacle course yet.  And it all comes together this weekend at Ruckus St. Louis.

St. Louis, are you ready to get down and dirty and cause a Ruckus?  Here is an exclusive sneak peek of what team Ruckus is putting together for you this weekend at the GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois!

A web? A pyramid? What could this obstacle be?

Our forklifts are out and ready to set up! 

Could this be the sign of another Mount Ruckmore?

GCS Ballpark: the perfect location for Ruckus St. Louis!

We hope you trained by running a few stairs! 

Awesome view of downtown STL and the arch. 

Barrels of hay? Would you expect anything less from Ruckus St. Louis?

Plus, we’ve got great news!  The forecast for the day of Ruckus St. Louis (Saturday, May 5) is 91 degrees and partly cloudy.  The perfect weather to get running, get muddy and get competitive!

Care to join us?  Come cheer on the RuckStars throughout almost the entire course (we have the best spectating capabilities of any other obstacle course out there!).  Stop by on Saturday, May 5 at 2301 Grizzlie Bear Boulevard in Sauget, Illinois and get your Ruckus on!


Follow us on Saturday too at @RuckusSports! 

Did You Know? Mud is Actually Good for Your Kids

How many times have you wiped a child’s face, poured extra bleach into the washing machine or asked the kids to leave their shoes in the garage all in the name of muddy play?  We’re guessing hundreds.  For many parents out there, mud is a pain—it gets all over the house, it gets under fingernails and it doesn’t necessarily scream “sanitary”. 

Muddy knees? No problem!

But many studies have gone to show that mud can actually be good for your kids!  Don’t believe us?  Check out the top 4 ways you should let your kids get a little muddier than usual during Ruckus St. Louis in just a few weeks:

1.  Mud is good for your brain

According to Medical News Today, there are certain types of bacteria found in soil that produce serotonin (and for you non-geeks out there, serotonin is a key chemical to bodily functions and is a natural anti-depressant).  What does that mean exactly?  It means that dirt and mud can actually make you and your kids feel happy! 

2.  Mud improves immune systems

When kids expose themselves to mud, dirt and soil, they are actually building up their immune systems during play (and while creating a huge mess).  Expose your children to the naturally-occurring microbes in soil and they will actually build stronger immune systems. 

3.  It’s healthy to be outside

Obviously, when kids are playing in the mud, they’re not playing inside.  They’re out in the sunlight, which is obviously more beneficial than plugging in the Playstation or powering up the computer.  Studies have recently coined the term “nature-deficit disorder”, a notion that has been negatively impacting children in the tech age.  When kids don’t head outside to play, they suffer from attention deficit disorder, depression and obesity.  And to think that a couple of muddy hands could cure all of that...

4.  Adventure can work wonders

It’s been proven that kids who play outside grow faster in character development.  Children who tackle adventure tend to be more self-motivated and know how to handle friendly competition. 

Get your kids out to Ruckus St. Louis and let them enjoy the mud!  Trust us—the muddy minivan seats will be worth it.  

Ruckus as a Stress Ball

Stress balls have been used for centuries.  In fact, these squishy, malleable balls have been used in Chinese medicine since the dawn of time.  And still today, stress balls are found in desk drawers, on nightstands, and in the anxious palms of the typical stressed-out soul. 

But why do stress balls work?  The continuous action of muscle contraction and relaxation relieves muscle tension and actually allows us to feel more relaxed and rhythmical.  Stress balls have a therapeutic value—they have been proven to help lighten mental loads and relieve bodily tension.

But squeezing a stress ball is only one way to relieve the tension and stress that pulses through the human body.  There is, in fact, be an even better way to achieve ultimate relief: exercise.

Ruckus can squeeze and smash stress away just as good as soft rubber ball out there.  Why?

Ruckus gets you away from it all

Stress knocks on our doors for many different reasons.  Disease, death in the family, work, family life and financial insecurity seem to be the biggest core areas of stress.  But when a person is in their “zone”, most of these stressors are left behind.  Exercise allows us to clear our heads and “get away from it all”. 

Muscle contraction and relaxation

The reason we love stress balls so much is because they allow the muscles in our arms to contract and relax.  But Ruckus allows for muscle contraction and relaxation on a whole new level.  Because Ruckus combines running with intense (and usually muddy) challenges, your muscles have time to relax in between our crazy obstacles.  Ruckus truly is muscle confusion at its finest.  

Ruckus is rewarding

Squeezing a stress ball can only get you so far.  Once you’re finished palming it to death, you don’t necessarily feel a burning sense of accomplishment.  But when you cross the Ruckus finish line or slide down Mount Ruckmore, we promise you will feel like a stress-free winner.    

Post-Ruckus endorphin rush

Although regular exercise does help us smash stress, mixing up workouts relieves tension even better.  If you’re bored with your routine, you may not experience the normal post-gym endorphin rush, making exercise less effective as a stress fighter than it could be.  Ruckus, on the other hand, allows you to try something new and gives you the chance to combine physical exertion with a bit of benign risk-taking. 

Many Ruckus runners sign up for our muddy obstacle courses because they want to feel that sense of accomplishment.  Others participate because their friends and family members are doing it too.  Yet others get down and dirty during Ruckus just to experience a fun weekend adventure.  But if you’re looking to sign up for something to relieve stress, clear your mind or rejuvenate your mental health, Ruckus may also be just the ticket.  Think of it as a jumbo, muddy, slippery stress ball, designed with you in mind.  

Still Procrastinating? Register Before the Ruckus St. Louis Price Increase

Hey, you.  Yeah, we’re talking to you.  You procrastinators, I’ll-do-it-later-ers, put-offers, draggers, stallers and dawdlers.  Ruckus St. Louis is about to experience a price increase!  Be sure to sign up today to receive your best offer. 

Prices increase on Friday, April 20, so sign up now and put procrastinating in the past!

We look forward to seeing you and your muddy self on May 5^th in St. Louis (assuming you’re not running late!).

Want more Ruckus news and updates?  Check us out on Twitter! @RuckusSports.

The Ultimate Ruckus Q&A (and Other Awesome Ruckus Stats!)

Is Ruckus for me?  Will I be able to complete the Ruckus obstacle courses?  Is Ruckus better than Warrior Dash?  Where is a Ruckus near me?  What if I’ve never done a mud run before?  Will I survive?

You’ve got questions—we’ve got answers!  Below are some of our most popular Ruckus questions that you may desperately want answered before the Ruckus St. Louis on May 5^th!

Why should I sign up for Ruckus?

Whether you want to feel a sense of accomplishment, are in need of a workout milestone or simply want to have some muddy fun, there are a billion reasons to sign up for Ruckus.  According to our previous Ruckus Kansas City survey, 58% of participants signed up for Ruckus in order to fulfill a persona accomplishment.  41% of participants signed up due to motivation from friends and family members and 20% signed up to experience a fun weekend activity.  What’s your reason to cause a Ruckus?

Do I need to be “in shape” for Ruckus?

We won’t lie—Ruckus certainly isn’t easy.  But that doesn’t mean that you have to be in marathon-shape in order to compete.  Every year, participants from ages 2 to 72 and of all different skill levels compete in Ruckus.  We also offer a variety of different obstacle course lengths including a 4-mile challenge, a 2-mile heater and a Ruckus Mini. 

During Ruckus Kansas City a few weeks back, we found that 37% of participants were “avid runners” and participate in one or more road races a year (whether that be a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon or triathlon).  35% defined themselves as “general athletes” who simply work out on their own and consider fitness important. 

Should I do the 4-mile Challenge or the 2-mile Heater?

Great question—and it’s completely up to you!  Are you a sprinter?  Check out the Heater.  Looking for a little more running?  Sign up for the Challenge.  Our Challenge is the most popular Ruckus event with 88% of KC participants competing in it a few weeks ago. 

Have most participants competed in Ruckus before?

As a matter of fact, no!  53% of our KC Ruckus runners experienced the crazy obstacle course for the very first time. 

What about Warrior Dash, Spartan Run, Tough Mudder and other mud runs? 

Many of our participants have engaged in these other muddy obstacle experiences, too.  29% of our runners had participated in Warrior Dash, 4% in Mud Run, 3% in Tough Mudder and 2% in Spartan Run. 

Will Ruckus take place near me and how should I arrive?

Ruckus is currently taking over five different cities across the U.S. including St. Louis, Boston, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Kansas City.  A majority of participants travel 30 minutes to one hour to participate in Ruckus and usually arrive with friends in tow.

Keep in mind that not everybody that comes to Ruckus has to run!  We have outstanding spectating capabilities as well.  In fact, 77% of spectators thoroughly enjoyed watching Ruckus Kansas City a few weekends back. 

So, should I take the plunge?

We think so!  If you’re passionate about fitness, enjoy a challenge or want to bond with friends and family, Ruckus is the best obstacle course for you.

And if that doesn’t convince you enough, take a look at the numbers: 78% of KC Ruckus runners plan to sign up for the 2013 Ruckus Kansas City obstacle course!  Another 92% of participants would encourage friends, colleagues and family members to participate in future Ruckus events.  

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up now!

Winning with Pinning: Ruckus is on Pinterest

Did you know that Ruckus is now on Pinterest? We’re posting some of our coolest pictures, connecting with our fellow “Pinners” and are creating bulletin boards full of Ruckus information.  Visit us on Pinterest to learn about Ruckus training, recovery, health and nutrition, and the different cities we will be taking over this year.

Check it all out at http://pinterest.com/ruckussports. Win and Pin with us today!  

Ruckus Kansas City 2012 Photo Recap: Some of our Fav Shots

If you joined us last weekend for Kansas City’s muddiest, craziest, most chaotic mud run yet, you may want to relive the moment.  Lucky for you, we are providing a sneak preview of some of the coolest pictures from Ruckus Kansas City.  Take a look below and be sure to Like us on Facebook to see more photos from Ruckus Kansas City.  

You've been warned: There will be mud.  

RuckStars face Mount Ruckmore head-on. 

When we said you'd get messy, we weren't kidding. 

That's one way to climb the Ruckus ladder.

Because mud really brings out your eyes.

Facing your fears.

Big or small, Ruckus is for all.

Finishing up the obstacle course with a slide down Mount Ruckmore.

Blazin' her own trail. 

The chance to compare bruises.

Start with a run.  Finish with a crawl.  

Don't just run Ruckus...slide Ruckus, too.

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Who says dudes can't enjoy a mud mask?

Sometimes, tires aren't meant to roll.

Ruckus KC: For ages 2 to 92.

Redefining "laydlike" at Ruckus KC.  

Hang in there, RuckStars!

Nothin' but net during this Ruckus obstacle.

The bruises will fade, accomplishment won't.

Sometimes, the path to enlightenment has barbed wire.

Mount Ruckmore: Redefining "slip and slide".

Ruckus Team bringing you the biggest, best obstacles in KC.

Prepare for Ruckus Mini!

Swingin' from rope to rope.  Tarzan would be proud.

It's a whole new take on "recess".  

Giving their manicurists a run for their money.

Pre-mud jump!

When obstacles are in the way, don't go around them. Climb them.

Spidercrawling through this Ruckus challenge.

Still glowing after ropes, trenches and monkey bars.

Because you and your friends should have something to talk about.

Overcoming obstacles...with leaps and bounds!

Pat yourself on the back (as soon as you can lift your arms again!).

Proving that life is short and it's important to stir it up!

Make some noise!

The bruises will fade, achievement won't. 

Making those reps mean something!

A victorious slide down Mount Ruckmore (Hey, nice pants!).

Ruckus: Because everyone should know the meaning of OMG.

Seem like an event that’s right up your alley?  Register today for Ruckus St. Louis!  We will have the same photo coverage for the St. Louis event—and it’ll be an obstacle course you REALLY don’t want to miss.  After all, how many chances to you get to slide down Mount Ruckmore?  Or climb up a mound of tires?  Or swing across a mud pit like Spiderman?  Come out and play on May 5th.