When you tell people you are running a 5k obstacle course through mud they have one of two reactions. They either think you are nuts or they want to join in on the fun. Fortunately, I had 5 friends who fall into the latter category. Three newbies and two veterans (who had run the race the previous year). I really enjoyed myself this year and I attribute the success of the event mostly to the company I kept, but there were some definite improvements to the race this year.
Many of us started off at Faithful Warriors (aka Cristi) house in Euless as she lived the closest to the event location. She also offered to drive which was brave considering the risk of severely sullying her vehicle post-race. It was most wise of us to carpool as parking for the event was $10 per vehicle. The drive over to the race location was hilarious. Witty Warrior (aka Joy) did an impromptu commercial for the race "Celebrating Earth day IN the Earth" that had us in stitches.
We arrived at Texas Motor Speedway and made our way to the school buses that would shuttle us to the race location. Many of us noted the addition of seatbelts. They certainly never had those when we were growing up.
We could hardly contain our nervous excitement as we arrived to the race compound. We quickly met up with Bruised Warrior (aka Kiki) and her friend Sarah who would not be running the race, but would be one of three spectators for our group. In addition to Sarah we had Andrew and Gus who were Eager Warriors (aka Tina) family members. Spectators make great photographers post event and help by holding bags and such.
It was easy to see that organization of the event had improved from the previous year. There were more port-o-johns, they added a changing tent (which was very helpful) and the layout overall was more maneuverable. Things just seemed to flow much better.
Very soon it was easy to see that there were lots of costumed people. Again a good idea that we hope to implement next year if we can get organized. One of my favorite groups that happened to be in our "wave" of the race were the Tighty Whiteys. Brave souls who wore their underwear on the outside of their clothing. I am sure they make their mothers proud.
We checked our bags, took a before race photo and made our way to the starting line. We did not have to wait long at all for our "wave" to begin. The beginning of any race with large numbers of people is almost always met with stop and go. You run a bit then things bottle neck. In a race of this nature you almost always have to wait to begin the obstacles. They take time and some people just take longer to get through things. I fully exepected a water obstacle early on in the race as it was the very first thing last year. That was not the case.
The beginning of the race was pretty tame. At first we ran through some fake buildings, then we hit open space for a while and found some relatively small hills to go over. Nothing too adventurous. We had adopted a stick-together plan which would serve us well later in the race. We then made it to the first real obstacle the balance beam.
Now last year I remember being a little shaky on the balance beam and this year was really not that much different. I always recommend going on one of the outsides. That way if you fall, you have somewhere to go and aren't likely to crash into other racers or other beams on your way down.
The one thing was that I started on the beam right behind someone who took a very long time. Walking uphill on a balance beam is challenging. Having to stop mid-way is kind of brutal. I really did not like it at all. At least this year my shoes were not wet yet. I remembered last year the Kiki needed a little help and hovered to make sure she made it down ok and she did great.
I then went back to make sure Joy (first time runner) had backup if she should need it. I got to her just as she started to falter a bit on the downward slope. Everything started to move in slow motion. I tried to offer her a hand and she started to lean to the side and fell forward. I quickly moved into a "spotter" position with my hands up to support her. It was a beautiful and easy fall and she wasn't hurt in the least. She didn't even seem very shaken by the event.
We just kept moving on to the next obstacle some tunnels under barbed wire and boards. I remembered last year that I hurt my knees trying to crawl. I was not about to do that this year. I found the deepest tunnel I could find and "bear-walked" on my hands and feet. It really worked and my poor knees were very thankful to be spared.
Finally some mud! After all when you go to a mud run, you want to encounter some and this first pit did not disappoint. There were many people trying to skirt the outside of the pit to avoid getting super messy. I don't enjoy sliding and saw that there were a fair number who in spite of their best attempts were falling into the pit. I decided that the best way was straight through. Less distance on the way down and I knew I would eventually get covered. I didn't slip at all really until the very end. Some girl had fallen and I went back to try to help her up. In the process, I slid a good three feet down into the pit on my backside. Slick track pants will do that. It was kind of fun.
We had to cover a bit of distance to the next obstacle which was a climb up to slide down a fire pole. Something new and it was the first obstacle that I saw several people just skip and go around. It wasn't until I was up to the pole that I realized why they avoided it. In order to get to the pole you had to lean out quite a bit. And in order to get to the ground you had to hold on with your arms as you wrapped your legs around the pole. A woman who went in front of me had taken pole dancing classes and was quite graceful as she made her way down. I was significantly less-than-graceful, but got to pretend I was a firefighter nonetheless. Kiki was a pro and said she attributes her success to many hours on the playground with her son.
You have those moments in each race that teach you something important. Last year I learned that in order to get through the next obstacle is was best to pin my number higher on my chest. There were a series of several walls that you had to climb over then go under. I did not take the time to count them, though it felt like there were more this year. Last year I ripped my number off of my shirt when I leaned over the walls. I really attacked the walls this year as I had no fear of safety pins gouging my guts. My blood was really pumping after the series.
When we drove by the race field on our way in there was one obstacle that you could see from the road. It was an angled wall that looked about 15 feet high. You would climb up the angled ladder-side and drop and slide from the other side. From the car it looked fairly easy. Up close it was definately not. Brave Warrior (aka Angie) got to the top and struggled to get to the slide part of the wall. You see there is a gap between the top of the ladder and the top of the slide. It is easy for a tall person to reach the gap with their legs. People who are shorter have a disadvantage on this obstacle. A fellow racer was enlisted to "spot" her as she dangled to reach the slide. The group as a whole was there to support and this is the main reason why I feel traveling as a group is best. There was no greater moment for the team than when we worked together on this obstacle.
There was a great distance to the next obstacle. On the way I was passed by a smurf, Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games, GI Joe, and one of the X-men (not sure which one as I was pretty tired). Now I will give you Katniss as she is used to the forest and I will give you GI Joe and the X-men as heroes, but being passed by a smurf is a little demoralizing. Luckily the next obstacle was a lame cargo net. You could easily lift it and run through it. Immediately after was some barbed wire obstacles that you had to crawl through. Again, not teribly difficult. Though by this point in the race, you appreciate some light challenge.
Next up more mud and a climb up a slippery slope using a rope. Pictures don't do it justice. You have to use a waterproof camera to get pictures on the route and our next obstacle was all water. Chest deep and cold, which was good for getting the mud off and for cooling off from the run to this point. Th obstacles in the water were much harder to maneuver than last year. I helped boost the team up and over and another kind racer helped me over the first floating wall. I managed to make it over the second on my own. Kiki and I posed for a picture to copy what we had done the year before. That left just one pic on the camera and I had no idea how many obstacles we had left.
The big wall was next and I just ran up and over it before I knew it. No nervousness, just climb up and climb down the other side. I decided to use the last picture to commemorate Kiki making it over the wall for the second year in a row. I felt that was a good use of the last on-route picture.
Our last obstacle before the end of the race was a new one. Perpendicular walls extended along a water canal that you must step on a tiny strip of wood and hold onto ropes as you inch your way along. Hoping not to fall off into the slimiest water I have ever seen. The rope pulls and gives as other climbers use it and I almost found myself falling backwards into the slime, but managed to make it through.
At the end of the race you jump over fire and crawl throug a mud pit. Both were much worse than they were last year. The fire was higher. The mud was muddier. I am just glad nothing was singed. By the time I flopped down in the mud pit, I resigned myself to drag my body through with my arms and let my legs float behind me. Again attempting to protect my knees.
Finally the end, we got our medals, some water and a fresh banana. Time for a quick group photo and then off to get washed off by fire hoses. This year I actually went and it was not fun at all. I had mud everywhere and when the hoses hit the mud went into my contact lenses. I did the best I could to get stuff off and then went to get my clothes to change. I felt a lot better after changing. I dropped off my tennis shoes in the giant pile. The shoes are recycled and then are donated. I believe the donations go to St. Jude's somehow, but I am not certain how that works. My group stopped to exchange our microchip timers for a free beer. It was nice and cold. We also took advantage of the free granola. Then it was back on the bus for the ride home. You would think the adventure would be over there, but Joy made new friends on the bus. You will have to let her tell you that story someday.
