Molasses in January

That's how slow I felt today. Despite my best efforts at hydrating yesterday, I was out-sweating the water stations. The course was 3 laps of a 3.1 mile route, which was nice because it was at least half shady and a decent breeze (but not so much as to make it a struggle going into it), and the first lap was fine. I felt slow, but heat happens. It was about 80 degrees and humid as a troll's armpit. Did I mention we started over half an hour late? Which meant all it did was get warmer, and stickier.

Second lap, still ok, other than mental battles, and we even caught a few 5k walkers before the end of that lap. I was having a hard time keeping myself going, but felt like if I could just start getting more water, maybe 2 of their tiny 3 ounce Dixie bathroom cups, I'd be able to make it.

But then, literally 50 feet into lap #3, bad news: water station 1 was OUT OF CUPS. So, crazy sweaty dehydrated girl that I am, I put my face under the jug and had them pour a bit in my mouth, all the while being assured that the next station would have cups.

But guess what?  No one was there. A few lonely cups of 80 degree water were on the table (it was like drinking from a hot tub).

Station 3? Worse- it was GONE! I watched the truck pull away. And nearly cried.

Station 4? GONE! Watched another truck pull away, cursing them under my breath. Ok, maybe not entirely under my breath. By this time I had had to walk several times. I tried to keep jogging a bit more, knowing there was one more potential water station (though it had been unmanned thus far).

Station 5- THANK YOU, SWET BABY JESUS! Still no humans working it, but thankfully, the water was still there, and my dear, sweet hero of a husband poured extra cups for me since he was about a minute or two ahead. I walked while I drank them, then resolved to jog the rest.... which I almost did, until the pavement moved and common sense said take a break. So I walked for a minute, then turned the corner where I could see the last long stretch. I then jogged the rest, using pure frustration at such a poorly managed race to get me to the end.

They had a fire hose to spray us down after every lap, and that might have been the only thing that kept me from passing out.

 This is the second event we have ran put on by the group that managed this one, and in both of them, they ran out of water or cups or both.

One of the awesome volunteers told us they will no longer hire this company (thank goodness!). Allegedly, someone was checking the course for the last runners, but seeing as I was wearing SAFETY GREEN and a bright, floral running skirt, I don't know how they missed me. Or the people who were still trudging along behind me.

I nearly fainted by the time it was over- my hypoglycemic friends, the black dots, were dancing in my vision, probably because even though I'd had shot bloks with me, my system said screw it and wouldn't work to process it without water.

All I can say is thanks to my awesome husband for making sure I made it through- he never got too far ahead- and thanks to the Ounce of Prevention charity gals for putting on the event. They did a great job, it was just the race organizer group they hired that failed to maintain a safe course. And, we know know, has a history of running out of water.

My time was somewhere between 1:38 and 1:40. Slow.as.molasses. But I finished, despite feeling like a lost little girl in the Sahara.

End of complaining. Time for a nap.

Brilliant idea?

I hope this works as well as I want to hold my car key this Saturday. It seems like a great idea. We shall see.

Taking rest seriously

My shin has been acting up... Mostly because a rock-headed dog keeps running into it. So, add in the heat, and today is a rest day. Back to spinning tomorrow, then rest/hydrate Friday to be ready for Saturday's Ta Ta Trot.

Spinning and a star

I took a spin class at the gym today. Working on spreading the word about my Zumba class, too. And now, I'm wrestling with deciding what color to border this block and how to turn it into a tote bag.

Mudder photos! YES!

Of course, since I went ahead and gave up waiting on Brightroom, I get an email hours after posting my recap that photos are up. Of course.

These gems were worth the wait, though.

Before- so fresh and so clean!

Fresh out of Artic Enema (ice water filled dumpsters with a wall you had to go under- legs were still numb!)

One of the berlin walls- I'm lowering myself down in a much more controlled way than last year.

Electroshock Therapy! 

Glad I'm smiling this year. 

Laugh at the pain (or the outfits). Call me crazy. It was worth it. And there will be more.

Are you ready, Kentucky?

Our coffee mug collection just got Awesome (Tough Mudder recap)

You've already seen this photo

so you know we survived. The best part is that not only did we make it through our second Tough Mudder, but both of us felt better prepared, completed more obstacles successfully, and were less sore afterwards.

Backing up:

Friday night, Tim's friend and his wife came down to stay- they were also doing the Mudder, and as first-timers, were more anxious than excited.

We cooked hotdogs over a fire in our fire pit (since there's a burn ban, it had to be contained), and had a few adult beverages, and then we found a snake, so I had to catch it:

My brother pointed out that there is an uncanny resemblance to a photo of me at age 5 holding a frog- same pose, just a 22 year difference.

Mudder morning: I, the human alarm clock, woke everyone at 4:30, and we were off by 5:20.

We had to stop in Lafayette for small bladders and empty stomachs.

 See what Tim's outfit looked like when we started? His friend's is similar, while we girls just had a theme of BRIGHT clothes.

We starte out running in the Mudder, but it was clear by the 3rd mile that we would be walking most of it in order to get the whole team through (Which is ok, people- Mudders are about finishing, not time! Teamwork over self!). But, I'm happy to say that I required much less help with the 8', 9', and 11' Berlin walls than last time, and I made it over Twinkle Toes (a balance beam that I fell off last time and was sooooo mad since I normally have awesome balance), and I jumped in the quarry without any hesitation this time, and can honestly say I smiled through the whole 12 miles (2 more! Yay!).

But a warning: if you bring small children to spectate, electricity causes uncontrollable cursing... sorry. Which means I swore heavily getting shocked in the Electric Eel (mud crawl under barbed wire spaced with live wires) and Electroshock Therapy (25 feet of hay bales to jump over through dangling live wires at the finish.... where I actually yelled "Little kids might want earmuffs" before I ran through).

The other amazing part of this Mudder was being able to get Ryan and Claire through it. Ryan needed very little help beyond encouragement that he could go the distance (the furthest he'd previously ever ran was 6 miles), but Claire's more of a fitness newbie. She needed a lot of help, but you have to give her credit! She FINISHED! That's the beauty of a Mudder: finishing is the achievement. I hope she learned as much about herself as I did during my first one. And I really hope it inspires her to keep pushing, keep running, and stay active.

 We bought coffee mugs this time. We both agreed that we'd get the giant beer steins in October in honor of Mudder #3 (and when we'll be prepared for their higher price point). How awesome is my coffee mug, though?

And I just had to share this photo from last night- the big baby, Matt Lauer, decided he needed to be in my husband's lap. All 100+ pounds of him. Such a giant baby.

Our next event is the Ta Ta Trot 15k in 10 days. And then, I'm going to have to figure out this solo long run business- so far, I've had a race or other event to get mine in, but starting in July, I'll be exploring parts unknown on the trail.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Boom. Mudder #2 is done.

Awesome day.