Padden Mudfest Trail Runs 5K | 10K Virtual

The Padden Mudfest is a trail run that takes place on the hilly and wooded trails around Lake Padden in Bellingham. The race is unique in offering an introduction to the muddy conditions, narrow rocky and rooty trails, and challenging hill climbs and descents usually encountered in ultra-marathons, but on a smaller and much more manageable scale. Even the 5k option is challenging, but it is very doable even for relatively young and less experienced runners. Expect narrow winding trails, steep ups and downs, rocks and roots, and—all being well—lots of sloppy and slippery mud.

The 5k course is essentially the second half of the 10k course, and the 10k course is significantly different from the course that has been run in past years. Both courses are hilly, going up and down the trails on the hills surrounding the lake, though both finish with a flat lakefront run along the exposed and scenic shores of Lake Padden.

Course Description

The race begins and ends at the playground area near the basketball courts and dog park at the eastern (golf course) end of Lake Padden.

The 10k run starts with a 5k loop over the hill behind the golf course. This first loop begins with an only moderately steep but very long and sustained climb to the high point of the race, followed by a long and winding descent with some quite steep and potentially very muddy and slippery parts, especially near the end. There will be an aid station at the 5k mark, where the 10k course joins the 5k course.

The 5k course begins with a very cheeky steep climb up to the ridge that forms the southern edge of the lake basin. It then goes along the ridge, with some potentially very muddy stretches. After a few ups and downs there is a steep descent to the lakeshore at the point where the creek exits the lake. There will be an aid station at this point. A brief excursion down the gorge leads to a short rise into the woods behind the western end of the lake, from where the course emerges onto the lakeside and heads to the finish.

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