Long before the idea to run 52 half marathons in a year was brought into my reality - my adventure race friends and I had signed up for a series of mud runs. This weekend was the first of three in a Trifecta Challenge... The Hog Wild Mud Run.
Still gun-shy after the terrible tough-mudder traffic debacle of 2012... We met early in the morning, long before the sun was up, so that we would arrive in Plant City when the parking opened.
Upon arrival we were leary... The morning fog following several inches of rain the previous day engulfed the field in an eerie glow. The parking was about 3/4 of a mile from packet pickup, and while there was a tractor making the slow crawl to packet pickup piled high with runners on a flatbed, we decided not to wait and made the long, and very muddy walk out. We took the tractor back to the cars to drop off our t-shirts, but walked back to the start line again - laughing at our filthy appearances before the race ever began.
Still gun-shy after the terrible tough-mudder traffic debacle of 2012... We met early in the morning, long before the sun was up, so that we would arrive in Plant City when the parking opened.
Upon arrival we were leary... The morning fog following several inches of rain the previous day engulfed the field in an eerie glow. The parking was about 3/4 of a mile from packet pickup, and while there was a tractor making the slow crawl to packet pickup piled high with runners on a flatbed, we decided not to wait and made the long, and very muddy walk out. We took the tractor back to the cars to drop off our t-shirts, but walked back to the start line again - laughing at our filthy appearances before the race ever began.
The fog lifted and my crew of adventure race friends and I were off... running through LOTS of water and under the darkest of tunnels, carrying tires and climbing ropes... the usual for an adventure race of this type.
The burpies in the mud may be one of the more disgusting things I have ever done... but thanks to the LifeProof case on our iPhones - the memories are captured forever.
The rain had both caused some changes to the race routes and the course itself. It wasn't until I viewed the video (shown below) after the race that and saw all the water on top of the tarp that I realized why we had all become pushed together in this element!
The rain had both caused some changes to the race routes and the course itself. It wasn't until I viewed the video (shown below) after the race that and saw all the water on top of the tarp that I realized why we had all become pushed together in this element!
The race slogan was "Finish Dirty" and I think that was accomplished! There were some challenges at this event brought on my mother nature - more distance between the elements at the end than many people would have liked - but when you sign up for a mudrun in the middle of a field, you have to be able to roll with the punches!
When all was said and done, any shortcomings were forgotten because of three things this race provided:
1. The sweet bling pictured below (for all finishers) the winners in the competitive wave got HUGE medals.
2. There was NO CHARGE for parking and NO CHARGE for spectators.
3. There was FREE FOOD at the end - and not bananas and bagels (although those were there too) but we are talking rice and beans, chicken and pork chops.... and UNLIMITED FREE BEER, including CIDER.... Yum Yum!
There are many races we will do, and a few we will do again.... this one goes on the will repeat list. Now we look forward to Monster Challenge next week!
When all was said and done, any shortcomings were forgotten because of three things this race provided:
1. The sweet bling pictured below (for all finishers) the winners in the competitive wave got HUGE medals.
2. There was NO CHARGE for parking and NO CHARGE for spectators.
3. There was FREE FOOD at the end - and not bananas and bagels (although those were there too) but we are talking rice and beans, chicken and pork chops.... and UNLIMITED FREE BEER, including CIDER.... Yum Yum!
There are many races we will do, and a few we will do again.... this one goes on the will repeat list. Now we look forward to Monster Challenge next week!