Muddy Bowl mixes crawfish boil, 5K trail run
Runners can kick off The Woodlands’ spring competition season and grab some post-race grub at the 15th annual Muddy Trails Bash and Crawfish CookOff at the George Mitchell Preserve on Saturday.
The 5K (3.1-mile) event is open to runners of all abilities age 10 and older. Registration is $40 and includes a finisher medal and participant packet.
The USA Track and Field-sanctioned event is chip-timed and begins at 3 p.m.
The bash merges the beginning of two important seasons for The Woodlands: running and crawfish.
“It kicks off the running season that we have,” The Woodlands Township’s Director of Communications Nick Wolda said. “This is a very active community, from our residents and visitors alike, and so this this event has really grown in popularity through the years.”
For those who don’t earn a spot on the award ceremony podium, there’s still a chance to score some loot from the postrace celebration at the Muddy Bowl Crawfish Cook-Off.
While runners prepare for the race, crawfish participants will put their Cajun cooking skills to the test starting at noon. Teams of up to eight members will be provided with several pounds of crawfish, a tent, and other set-up supplies as they prepare their best batch.
The public can enjoy free samples and live zydeco music from Lafayette-based zydeco band RJ & Creole Smoove at 3 p.m. Attendees can nominate their favorite crawdads for the People’s Choice Award, while judges will vote for the Best Crawfish, Best Cajun Dish and Best Decorated Tent awards. The head chef of the winning crawfish team will have the opportunity to become a judge in 2024, and winners will leave the event with a commemorative 2023 Muddy Bowl Crawfish Cook-Off trophy
Awards for the crawfish cookoff teams will take place at 5:30 p.m.
Children’s activities and concessions will also be available at the post-race event.
The bash offers a less-rigorous alternative to events like The Woodlands Marathon, which takes place Feb. 25 and March 4, and other springtime competitions like Ironman Texas and the Woodforest Bank Triathlon.
“This is a more family-friendly, festive environment,” Wolda said. “I’m sure there are a lot that, after the New Year, will want to get back in shape and get onto the running trails again, and this is a good way to jump (back) into it.”
The boil may also be some residents’ first dose of crawfish this season, which typically peaks from March-June.
The event is expected to bring in 450 race participants and around 2,500 attendees, Wolda said. As with all of the township’s Signature Races, proceeds go to programs and services offered through the Parks and Recreation Department.