Saturday I completed my first ever race! It was the Tucson Mud Run which was promoted at a 5k (3.1miles) race with obstacles with the promise of taking home as much mud as you could carry! So naturally I signed up!
The week prior to the event nerves began to set in and as the big day approached I started dreaming about the race. I am happy to report that there wasn't any alligator filled pits nor did I get bitten by a rattlesnake as in my dreams. Friday I went and picked up my first ever race packet. I was so excited to get my bib number (416) and running socks. I came home and pinned my number on to my shirt, set out my shoes, socks, and running shorts. I was ready for the next morning. I set my clock for 5 am because I didn't want to be late!! I actually fell asleep easily but I was awake at 430 and ready to go.
After getting ready and fueling up on a granola bar with almond butter and Gatorade, I set out. It was chilly at first and I was happy I brought a long sleeve shirt to throw on, but as the sun came over the mountain it quickie warmed up. The day was promised to be in the triple digits! The course has also changed to 3.6 miles. I had brought two Gu gel packs with me and took the first one about 15 minutes prior to the race start. I lined up with the second wave and nervously awaited the air horn to signal our start. As I'm awaiting the the start I hear an announcement about rattlesnakes but the horn sounds before I can process that one!!
And we are off, I know better than to run full speed out of the start line, but I do take off running with the plan to run for about a minute and then slow to a walk. I was worried I would be the only one walking but quickly there are six of us walking. I am walking with two other girls and we ended up taking a wrong turn and went a little bit out of the way and had to turn around and come back. The third wave start sounds and we are a really tight portion of the trail so we edge over to the side and let the faster runners come by. Soon it is apparent that I cannot keep walking with these girls because they are going a bit to slow for me not to run into them. I bid them farewell and pass them up. About half a mile in I see the first obstacle, a tire obstacle with a 8 footish wall climb. I'm okay with the tires but the wall climb was the thing I had been dreading!! I wait for my turn and I'm quickly through the tires and before I know it I am up the wall! I have a little trouble at the top turning around but I'm quickly down and running again. I have the biggest smile on my face because I have just conquered one of my fears!!
Soon the second obstacle appears, a giant log ladder thingy. I see my husband in a small group of spectators and I know I have this in the bag. The official/volunteer tells us we can go around if we are in a hurry, but I can't do that! (ok the thought did cross my mind). Again I wait my turn and I'm up and over and running again!! I have a huge smiled on my face when I see the photographer! I hit the water station and hydrate and I'm off again. All this time I have been walking and jogging in semi regular intervals, but the trail had a lot of loose rocks and dirt so I have to be very careful too.
Then I round a corner as see the third obstacle, a man with a water truck and a hose. I know that water is not going to be warm, so I pick up my pace. The joy of not running with the pack is that the guy with the hose has the ability to get you drenched! It was awesome!! It actually felt refreshing! Right after that is the log crossing. My shoes are wet and muddy but I pick my log and I'm over it in no time! I run up the hill and there is the fourth obstacle, the slip and slide. There's a guy yelling "SPRINT" so I start running and take a dive!! I slide about half way across and crawl the rest of the way and take a step into a pool of muddy water! This is so much fun! This is totally what I signed up for!
Then comes the hills. We start climbing the mountain and the first hill is a monster! The trail is now winding and curving and going up and down hills and washes. The path is uber rocky and most of the dirt is really loose. I run when I have a solid path, but for the most part I walk, and walk, and walk. It seems like forever and there isn't an aid station for about a mile and a half. The aid stations are set up at the mile markers, but we were warned that the mile markers are not accurate. I am starting to worry that I am just dragging and it is taking too long. I know this isn't a real competitive race, but I don't want to come in last!
As we come down the hill I see obstacle number five (unless the hill was number 5) and it is a sand dune and another wall climb. Right after that is the water station and mile marker two. So you have to climb the wall to get to the water. Talk about incentive!! I wait for a couple people to go over and then I am up and over, even quicker than last time. I hydrate and the ground is pretty solid so I'm off running again. I hear them say we are about half way. About half a mile up is another water station. I use my second gel pack because I am start to slow down and I hydrate and I'm off. Only half a mile to go.
I can hear the crowd getting louder and I know I'm almost there. I know there are are least two more obstacles coming. I am walking now with the plan of running to the finish line. I catch up with a friend from the race and we start jogging (actually she catches up to me, but my story). Of course the finish line is uphill but that's okay. We see the "mud" pit and start to walk. We wait in line for our turn in the pit and my legs are all weak. I am having foible keeping my balance. I let her go first and she jumps into the murky water. I follow and splash down into it! I swim/crawl to other side and get out. I run up the little incline and wait for my turn at the last slip and slide which ends in the pool. I slide into the pool and waddle to the end and get out. I have just finished my first race!
Official times were posted today and I finished in 1:06:30.2 which is approximately 8.5 miles per minute. I think this is an excellent time! I was a bit slower than my usual run, but not by much especially since I walked most of it and had to wait for people to finish obstacles and then complete said obstacles. This was an amazing experience. The blisters caused by running in wet socks will heal, the sunburn will fade, but my memory of my first race will not!!
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