Dirty Kicks

"It appeals to people who want to try something new," said VentureQuest race director Jim Harman. "Marathons have been around for a long time. Triathlons have been around for a long time. This is sort of the next big thing, and people want to give it a go."

In Muddy Buddy, no compasses are required. And though the race is somewhat strenuous, most people in decent shape shouldn't have a problem finishing. But many of the athletes seem more intent on outdoing each other with ridiculous get-ups than beating each other on the course.

At the Boston race, one guy competed in a grass skirt, and another competitor wore a gaudy Hawaiian shirt and a clashing red tie. One team fastened pink flamingos to their bike helmets; another took turns racing with a rubber chicken strapped to members' backs. There was Batman and Robin and a team in sombreros, ponchos and fake mustaches. A portly racer wore a T-shirt that stretched over his ample belly. "Powered by Burritos," it read.

When he attends a Muddy Buddy race, Babbitt said, he sometimes dresses as a frog, which is part of the group's logo.

Why?

"Why not?"

In real life, Joe Coyne, 27, of Washington, who made the trip to Boston, works as a psychologist for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Southwest Washington. But at the Muddy Buddy race, he morphed into an expert in all things mud. Having competed in several of the events, he has acquired a bit of expertise, which he imparted to his girlfriend and racing partner, Kate Caddick, 23, also of the District.

The mud pit is only about 1 1/2 feet deep, he was telling Caddick, who was about to participate in her first Muddy Buddy.

"That's pretty deep if you're laying down in it," said Caddick, looking surprised.

The key, Coyne said, was to keep your mouth closed because "you're going to get covered."

"Good, it'll be like a facial," she said.

And it was: a full-body facial.