Tough Mudder 2012 Part 2

I forgot to mention that as I stood in the starting gate with my fellow soon to be mudders I was eyeing everyone up trying to find someone to run it with. Since it's suppose to be all about teamwork and camaraderie I really wanted to find someone or a team to run the whole race with. I was standing by 3 women and one guy that were all doing it together. The looked to be about my age and seemed like fun, so I was trying to work up the nerves to say something to them but I never did.

Then we started running and I think I told one of those girls, "good luck, have fun." And she asked me if I was running it alone and told me to join her team, YAY, 2 steps out of the gate I have a team. I knew it was going to be a good day right there! We introduced ourselves, I was running with "Whiskey Wisdom," Josey, Casey, Kara, and Tom all from Madison/Milwaukee area.

So we ran for about half mile over pretty easy rolling grassy terrain, I knew from the spectator map (if it was right) that our first obstacle would be the "Arctic Enema." This is the one obstacle that I was NOT looking forward too.  Sure enough we rounded a corner and there was the dumpster full of ICE CUBES and water. Holy shit this thing just got real! I climb right into that dumpster, waded through the ice, felt for the bottom of the board I had to go under, took a few deep breaths and went for it. Coming up on the other side you feel like you can't breathe. I climbed onto the side of the dumpster to try to catch my breath and then climbed out. Obstacle #1 done!

Well that was fun, what's next? I couldn't feel my feet at all but we started jogging right away to try to get some blood back into our bodies. Not too far in the distance I could see the next obstacle, "Bale Bonds." We climbed our way over approximately 10 foot high hay bales and kept on running. Well that wasn't too bad, with plenty of friendly handing helping you over you feel like you can do anything. #2 Easy!

after coming out of the trenches.

two of my adopted teammates in blue.

Before too long we came upon some small tunnels that we'd need to crawl through, "Trench Warfare." Hopefully no one is claustrophobic because it's dark and pretty small in there. This is definitely one of the easier obstacles but we're finally muddy!! Somewhere around this time we passed mile 1 and maybe even 2. My family also got to see me here, that was great. My kids were so funny, they loved seeing momma get muddy!

We ran up a few hills and back out onto the flats. After a quick water stop we could see "Kiss of Mud" ahead. This is the obstacle where you REALLY get muddy. You need to crawl on your belly under barbed wire about 8 inches off the ground. I basically swam my way through without really even using my legs. That muddy water is chilly! I got significantly more dirty and was smiling the whole way through. This is really starting to get FUN!  

Now my memory of which obstacle came where is a little cloudy. I remember the beginning and end pretty well and the middle miles are so full of twist and turns I'm probably going to get a few of them out of order. I remember all of them but just not to order. Anyways,

Next we climbed over the "Spiders Web" and "Berlin Wall." On tired legs and covered in mud it's hard to climb up and over anything. But with help from my team and fellow mudders we were able to get it done.

The "Mud Mile" came next. This was one of the most fun obstacles. Up huge muddy hills, down the other side into a mud pit and do it again about 6 times. We tried to go slow but I slide down one of those hills like a water slide and ended up on my knees in the muddy water on the other side. And of course my knee found a big rock. War wound #1 Check!

The next few miles were obstacle free but full of hills, stumps, and fallen trees. And my socks were filled with mud, rocks, and who knows what else. I had a feeling I'd have a few blisters when this day was done.

Next up was "Hanging Tough" I knew there wasn't much of a chance of me getting across this but I figured I'd attempt it. I did, huge splash in the water! At least the water wasn't that cold!

We crawled under "Devil's Beard" and then made our way up to "Hold your Wood." This part is kind of a nice breather, since there was no way we'd be running carrying a stump a quarter mile.

Next on the obstacle checklist was "Jesus Walk" A huge mud pit that claimed many victims with it's hidden holes. I followed someone that took a good path and I didn't receive a mud facial.

After making our way up "Cliffhanger" we encountered another, ever bigger "Berlin Wall." This wall you need help getting up and getting down (at least if you're under 6 ft or don't have superhuman upper body strength.)

At this point we were probably 8 miles into the course and still going strong. My right foot was HURTING. I kept trying to dig out mud but couldn't get far enough down without taking off my shoe, which I was not going to do. I figured I was around 8 miles I could make it the rest of the way. I was welcoming obstacles now since it took my mind off my blister.

The upcoming obstacles promise to be great!

the 3 ladies I ran with in the black tank, blue tank, and blue shirt.

having so much fun!

Tough Mudder 2012 Part 1

As I sit here soaking my right foot, attempting to get rid of the infected blister I received from running 11.5 miles with mud and rocks in my sock I figured I'd write my race report.

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I've been running at least 4-5 days a week, anywhere from 3-6 miles for the last few months. It's been such a beautiful spring it's been easy to get out there to work out. I tried to do a lot of push ups, pull-ups, and attempted the monkey bars ever time I was at a playground to get ready for all the upper body strength required to complete the TM course.

If you have never heard of the Tough Mudder it's an adventure race that claims to be the "Toughest Event on the Planet." All I know is it's definitely the hardest and most mentally demanding thing I've ever done. The running is easy, the obstacles take everything out of you. It's truly life changing.

I found out about this event last fall, I think there was an ad on my facebook page and it looked intriguing. As soon as I read about it I knew I had to do it. I've always wanted to do an adventure race, I almost did the Warrior Dash a few times but I was always busy when it was scheduled for. When I found out that the TM was coming to the Twin Cities I signed up to receive an email when registration opened. I emailed a bunch of women hoping they would want to do the race with me, no one bit, so I signed up alone. Looking back on it I should have just signed Tony up for it as well, he would have done it with me no question and would have been a great partner in crime. I think I was thinking that he wouldn't want to spend the money.

Day of the event I was insanely nervous, now I've done hundreds of running races, I get nervous for those too, however running races I know what to expect. Run 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, etc as fast as I can get my body to move, start to finish. This event I had no idea what to expect. I knew the general obstacles and distance, but there's no way to prepare for freezing water, barbed wire, tunnels, 12 ft walls, and electricity. I didn't know if I'd panic, freeze up, freak out, etc. The unknown is scary. They say to do one thing every day that scares you, well I think the TM should count for about 3 weeks.

In order to get to the start you need to climb over a 4 ft wall, I attempted and failed, Tony had to boost me over. That made me even more nervous, seriously I can't get over one little wall? How am I going to be able to handle the rest of this course? Good things this race is all about camaraderie and teamwork.

The MC for the race does a 10 minute pump you up session. He does this every weekend at every TM in the US, he is amazing! I can't tell you exactly what he said, I was taking a lot of deep breaths just to keep the tears in (nervous = tears for me.)
We did a lot of HOO-RAHS and other chants and I was ready to get this thing started!
After a very beautiful national anthem we were off!

About to head over the start wall.

Attempting the wall, Tony came to help after he took this picture.

Nervous!

Let's Do This!