Down and dirty at Dominion Riverrock

By Leah Harms

You’ve finally managed to put that vicious winter behind us and enjoy some warmer days. Chances are you’re eagerly awaiting a summer schedule packed with opportunities to get active and enjoy the great outdoors with your family.
Those opportunities can’t come soon enough for Richmond mom Chris McDaniel and her family, as they prepare for a summer filled with more of the outdoor experiences that have so closely bonded them together over the years.
One of the most immediate opportunities, however, is an event that Chris and her son, Matthew, are excited to try for the first time – the May 16 Filthy 5K Mud Run on Brown’s Island.
The Filthy 5K (that’s 3.1 miles) kicks off two days of outdoor activities at Dominion Riverrock, an event held annually to showcase the downtown waterfront while bringing Richmonders together to enjoy live music and a wide variety of sporting events.
According to Chris, having fun while staying active is not only part of everyday life, it is part of the foundation on which their family is built.
“My husband and I met on the ultimate (frisbee) field,” she says. “We’re both big sports lovers. We like to get outside and all of our kids have been raised that way.”
When 12-year-old Matthew recently took an interest in running, Chris discovered another outlet in which to enjoy time with him. After running the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K together in March, they signed up for Riverrock’s infamously messy 5K race.
Chris previously participated in Riverrock’s 10K trail run, the James River Scramble.
The McDaniel family has always enjoyed being active together; their favorite activities are disc golf and biking. But the mother-son duo is especially excited for this year’s Mud Run, rumored to be as fun as it is challenging.
The 5K course starts on Brown’s Island, crosses the James River, winds through Belle Isle and finishes back on the island, where participants must crawl through a mud pit to reach the finish line. With a wave start system, the event is set up for people of all ages and fitness levels, from the “mud racer” to the “mud wallower.”
The event offers Chris another chance to spend time with her son while maintaining an example of health and wellness. That’s a role that she says is crucial to the development of healthy habits within her family. “We try to teach our kids to be healthy and get plenty of exercise and fresh air,” she explains. “The best way to teach that is to demonstrate it in what we do as parents.”
And while the health benefits of the event appeal to mom, Matthew is most looking forward to a few different features of the Filthy 5K - “gettin’ dirty and hoppin’ rocks.” Online registration is now open for the Filthy 5K Mud Run and other Dominion Riverrock events. For more information, call 285-9495 or visit www.dominionriverrock.com.

 

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