A blob race was a bizarre contest of speed between protoplasmic, gelatinous Umgullian blobs through a course of obstacles—from fine mesh screens to a bed of nails. It was a major betting sport in Umgul City on the planet Umgul. The syrupy masses, usually grayish green but laced with bright hues, rolled, slithered, and oozed their way through. Cheating on the races was punishable by death.