Everything you need to know about Manchester's Race for Life Pretty Muddy event at Heaton Park, Prestwich

Here's all you need to know. 

What is it?

Pretty Muddy is an event that takes the established Race for Life 5k and 10k to a new level. It’s a 5k route complete with a series of nine obstacles. Just like the other races in the event, it's women-only.

And be warned it can get messy!

When is it?

It’s this Saturday, July 16.

And where?

It takes place at Heaton Park, the day before the traditional Race for Life 5k and 10k races.

So how does it work?

Pretty Muddy participants set off in 15-minute waves, to make sure everyone gets around the course safely.

Then, you’ll face lots of obstacles around the 5k course, all set within Heaton Park. You will scale climbing nets, crawl through mud pits, hop through tyres before splashing into a mud bath from an inflatable slide.

It’s a non-competitive race; it won’t be timed, but you can time yourself if you’d like to.

If you think one of the obstacles may be too tough for you, a Race for Life marshal can help you skip onto the next one.

What are the obstacles?

You will negotiate nine obstacles.

Wrecking Ball is where participants run through a large structure pushing large inflatable balls out of the way as they go.

Durdles sees ladies climb over specially-made hurdles with a mud pit waiting for you to land in on the other side!

Entrapment where ladies take on a spiders’ web - weaving their way through a tangle of bright pink ropes, climbing over or crawling under the ropes to get to the other side.

Tyred Out sees you hop, run or jump through a series of pink tyres.

Light at the end of the tunnel – as the name suggests is a big tube for ladies to crawl through.

Vertigo - an A-frame obstacle which will remind you of climbing frames from your childhood. Participants climb to the top of the frame using the net and then go over the top and back down the other side.

Go Commando! (pictured above) - Ladies need to get down on their hands and knees for this obstacle and make their way under the scramble net until they reach the end – watch out for those water pistols too!

Down and Dirty – as if you weren’t messy enough this obstacle requires crawling through the mud pit to the other side.

Finally it’s the Mud Chute (pictured below) where ladies climb up the big inflatable slide and then whizz down the other side and splat into a mud bath then run to the finish line.

Do I need to bring anything?

It will get muddy and there are no shower facilities on offer at Heaton Park. So you should bring a change of clothes with you, and a towel to wipe away the worst of the mud.

Are there any restrictions?

You must be 13 or over to take part in Pretty Muddy. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, you should check with your doctor before taking part.

Can I still enter?

You can, but you’d better be quick - there are only a few timeslots still available, after 2pm.

How much is it to enter?

It’s £19.99 for adults (16+), £10 for 13-15 year olds.

Why do ladies take part?

The 12,000 participants will be raising around £600,000 for Cancer Research UK. Every week, 110 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West so these events are really important to help us keep fighting this disease. Cancer Research UK funded around £20million in research in Manchester last year.

Anything else?

For more information visit raceforlife.org