No Category selected Running Profile: The Canadian Mudd Queen’s

Running Profile: The Canadian Mudd Queen’s

November 13, 2015

Canadian Mudd Queens (CMQ) was founded in 2012 as are a group of women from across Canada with a shared interest in obstacle racing, mud runs and general fitness and nutrition. With a membership of over 880 women across Canada, the CMQ make of the largest group of its kind in the country. Their membership consists of all ages and skill levels – from elite races who frequent the podium to novice runners tackling their first mud run. The CMQ fosters social connections through common interests, from advice and encouragement to local training partners.

For their third year, CMQ’s have utilized their national presence to fundraise for causes the group identifies with. For the past two years, they have supports the Sears Great Canadian Run benefitting the Sears Foundation that donates to local and national paediatric cancer causes (http://therun.ca). This year, CMQ has taken on a second case: JDRF, in support of finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes through research in three areas – cure, treatment and prevention (http://jdrf.ca). To raise money for the cause, the CMQ and The Eh! Team will be virtually running across Canada for these two causes – with each runner pledging kilometres toward the group goal of 7286km. Registration is available at cmqrunfordiabetes.wordpress.com.

We chatted with Charity Ambassador, Brittany Pollock to talk all things obstacle racing and charity.

What was your favourite obstacle course race to run?

Personally, I am very much for the obstacle-heavy races. I like climbing over things, heavy carries, and the balancing challenges. I’m not a huge runner myself, I tend to run the 5km races but obstacle course races actually opened the door to trail running for me. I now enjoy that as well.

Why obstacle racing?

A lot of us were looking for something different and fun to do – this opened up the doors to obstacle racing.

Is there a general demographic that you cater to? A specific age of woman?

It’s actually the complete opposite, have a gigantic range of women who run with us. I think our youngest member is seventeen now – she joined when she was probably about fifteen. On the other end, we have grandmothers. We span from coast to coast. One of our racers is ranked the top ten obstacle course racers in the world while others are new to racing all together and are simply looking for support.

The Canadian Mudd Queens have had a great year. Are there any highlights?

For me, and I think a lot of the girls, it was the Sears Canadian Run. This year we were the first and only team to participate in all three cities: Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary. As a team we raised $43,000 (we have raised $71,000 to date for the last three years). Personally, I ran in the Ottawa race and it was an amazing experience, we did two teams of ten.

Obstacle racing – especially for women – can be intimidating. What are some stereotypes or misconceptions that CMQ’s try to break?

That’s one of the biggest things for us. A lot of people are scared to sign up because they don’t want to do it alone or don’t think they can physically do it. Its perfectly okay to do one of these races and walk it or avoid someone the obstacles.

The nice thing about the group is that there is not one obstacle course across Canada where there isn’t at least one fellow Mudd Queen running as well. We always arrange within the group for runners who are intimated and don’t want to run alone.

If you had to use 3 words to describe this group of women what would it be?

Support, comradery and fun.

Tell us about why you choose to donate the Sears Great Canadian Run for the past two years? What about this cause spoke to you?

Kids cancer is someone that affects pretty much anyone in one way or another. A lot of our runners have personal stories or children themselves who are affected by this. It was a really easy choice to make to support this cause.

Since we are over 880 members, we decided that we could do more. We picked up JDRF – in support of Type 1 Diabetes Research. This cause is also close to home. That I know of, there are over half a dozen women who are affected by Type 1 Diabetes themselves and numerous others who have family and friends with Type 1 Diabetes as well.

You have decided to host a Virtual Run this year. Why?

We are all so spread out. From the Canadian Mudd Queens to the Eh! Team, we span over the entire country. The internet is one of the only places where we can all race together. It’s a way for all of us to do something as a team, virtually.