This was so AWESOME! I can’t wait to do it again. Seriously.
I have to admit I experienced a certain amount of trepidation regarding what I’d gotten myself into, but when my sister showed up as a surprise, everything changed. If she believed in me enough to come to Austin, I knew I could do it. This might seem silly. So many people have been supportive of me from the outset. This was different in some undefinable way.
A lot of other things were going through my brain as we got underway. Running by myself, it was obvious I was going to need help to get over a lot of the obstacles. (Like the 15 foot high walls with little tiny ledges at chest height.) I was concerned I was going to wear down because of the heat, concerned it was too cold since it was in the low 40s when I started, concerned I’d be laughed off the course for wearing long pants, tights, and two shirts. I think I was the only one in long pants, but it was wise on my part. It protected me from the “Arctic Enema” which is a long dumpster filled with ice water; you have to swim under a barrier to get to the other side. My clothes kept me warm and also cooled me off as we were running. They also protected me from the “Electric Eel” and “Electric Shock Therapy”. The first one requires you to low crawl through the mud under live electric wires, and the second is a run through a mud pit with live electric wires dangling over you. I only got zapped when I slipped and had my neck exposed as I got up to finish.
Those are the three obstacles they brag about being so tough, and they were conquered by long pants and long sleeves. So here’s a question: are we here to get gouged, shocked, scraped and bruised as part of the fun, or are we here to take on the challenge and defeat it?
Other than the difficulty about the walls, (three different wall obstacles each a little different requiring a new approach to getting over) I think the hardest part was the running. It was all gravel and potholes and up and down and at some points it was so steep there was no running, only climbing. Some of you might have enjoyed the trail running, but I was busy focusing on keeping my feet underneath the rest of me. While we were running (I found a group to run with, and which was a big confidence booster. A big thanks to K. Franklin Johnson and pals.) I saw two gazelle shoot right across the path on the way downhill. I was a little surprised figuring the noise of the whole event would have scared all the wildlife into the next county. There were also a lot of skeletons along the trail, some fresher than others. It didn’t seem anything remained… uh… unpicked… for very long.
I mean it when I say I had so much fun, it’s incredible. I would do this again in a heartbeat. I might not wear combat boots next time, and I think I’d have to shave my head to keep my hair out of my eyes. I’d definitely train differently, but given half a chance, I’d be all over it. Maybe if I start training now…
The truth though, I felt like I’d been hit by a car when I got up on Sunday. I didn’t feel much better Monday on the way to work. It’s definitely going to take some time for all my bruises to heal, but even with all that, it was totally, totally worth every minute. I may have felt odd being alone out there and being the only person in long pants, but at least I wasn’t with the group of guys wearing Nothing But Thongs (or better, Nothing Butt Thongs), or the group of guys in Speedos, Chippendale bow-ties and shirt cuffs. I also met a very large man, who was walking the course, and I have to say I am very proud he would take this challenge and work to complete it. (I saw him just before the second to last obstacle, and he had that look that said, “I can do this.” It was amazing.)
I feel like a little kid on a ferris wheel: all I can think is “GO AROUND AGAIN!”
Maybe next year…
PS: This is my last Mudder post (until next time) feel free to share with whoever might be entertained.
blackjayne 
Road Trip — Austin, TX APR2013 Last Word
This was so AWESOME! I can’t wait to do it again. Seriously.
I have to admit I experienced a certain amount of trepidation regarding what I’d gotten myself into, but when my sister showed up as a surprise, everything changed. If she believed in me enough to come to Austin, I knew I could do it. This might seem silly. So many people have been supportive of me from the outset. This was different in some undefinable way.
A lot of other things were going through my brain as we got underway. Running by myself, it was obvious I was going to need help to get over a lot of the obstacles. (Like the 15 foot high walls with little tiny ledges at chest height.) I was concerned I was going to wear down because of the heat, concerned it was too cold since it was in the low 40s when I started, concerned I’d be laughed off the course for wearing long pants, tights, and two shirts. I think I was the only one in long pants, but it was wise on my part. It protected me from the “Arctic Enema” which is a long dumpster filled with ice water; you have to swim under a barrier to get to the other side. My clothes kept me warm and also cooled me off as we were running. They also protected me from the “Electric Eel” and “Electric Shock Therapy”. The first one requires you to low crawl through the mud under live electric wires, and the second is a run through a mud pit with live electric wires dangling over you. I only got zapped when I slipped and had my neck exposed as I got up to finish.
Those are the three obstacles they brag about being so tough, and they were conquered by long pants and long sleeves. So here’s a question: are we here to get gouged, shocked, scraped and bruised as part of the fun, or are we here to take on the challenge and defeat it?
Other than the difficulty about the walls, (three different wall obstacles each a little different requiring a new approach to getting over) I think the hardest part was the running. It was all gravel and potholes and up and down and at some points it was so steep there was no running, only climbing. Some of you might have enjoyed the trail running, but I was busy focusing on keeping my feet underneath the rest of me. While we were running (I found a group to run with, and which was a big confidence booster. A big thanks to K. Franklin Johnson and pals.) I saw two gazelle shoot right across the path on the way downhill. I was a little surprised figuring the noise of the whole event would have scared all the wildlife into the next county. There were also a lot of skeletons along the trail, some fresher than others. It didn’t seem anything remained… uh… unpicked… for very long.
I mean it when I say I had so much fun, it’s incredible. I would do this again in a heartbeat. I might not wear combat boots next time, and I think I’d have to shave my head to keep my hair out of my eyes. I’d definitely train differently, but given half a chance, I’d be all over it. Maybe if I start training now…
The truth though, I felt like I’d been hit by a car when I got up on Sunday. I didn’t feel much better Monday on the way to work. It’s definitely going to take some time for all my bruises to heal, but even with all that, it was totally, totally worth every minute. I may have felt odd being alone out there and being the only person in long pants, but at least I wasn’t with the group of guys wearing Nothing But Thongs (or better, Nothing Butt Thongs), or the group of guys in Speedos, Chippendale bow-ties and shirt cuffs. I also met a very large man, who was walking the course, and I have to say I am very proud he would take this challenge and work to complete it. (I saw him just before the second to last obstacle, and he had that look that said, “I can do this.” It was amazing.)
I feel like a little kid on a ferris wheel: all I can think is “GO AROUND AGAIN!”
Maybe next year…
PS: This is my last Mudder post (until next time) feel free to share with whoever might be entertained.