Mother's Day In The Mud!

This year I will turn 50 years old.  I had reflected on the past:  at 30 I got married, at 40 I ran 2 marathons, so what would I do for 50?  I needed something to challenge me for this new decade.  

My younger sister posted on Facebook that she was doing the Tough Mudder Event.  That piqued my interest since I have not known her to do athletic activities in recent years.   I went to the website for the event and found that there was an event in VT.  I registered! I figured it would be so fun to spend Mother's Day in the mud, and doing something that would be a challenge.  I then started my search to find a few other mothers who would hopefully think being in the mud on Mother's Day would be invigorating! Success, I found 3 other awesome ladies to join my "Mud Diva" team. 

Amazingly, I had a local friend who had run a few half and full marathons who was interested. The second lady was a woman who showed up in one of my fitness classes and she found another woman whom I had a connection with almost 10 years ago in a swim program.  I had a wonderful connection to all three.

Two weeks before the event we decide we should meet to discuss how the experience would go. While discussing everything from what obstacles we were nervous about, what we would wear, how would be celebrate, we spent the whole time laughing. I knew at this point we would be have an awesome time!!

So what is this "Tough Mudder" - It is a 10 - 12 mile obstacle course, designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Forget finish times. Simply completing a Tough Mudder is a badge of honor. All Tough Mudder sponsorship proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

We arrived in VT on Saturday evening and headed out to the local Pub that had signs everywhere about the Mudder.  Inside everyone was wearing smiles and orange headbands. The orange headbands are for those that finish - you cannot get them anywhere else.  The smiles were on the faces of those who were glad they were done and those who were filled with excitement for their turn to take on the muddy course. Those that took part on Saturday were happy to share the stories of the day and give small bits of advice on what to expect on Sunday.

We met a friendly team from Boston who wanted to catch up on Sunday after the event for a beer and share the stories of our day!! They caught up to us at Registration and again on the course.  

Now about the course, 28 obstacles over the 10 miles. The day was cool and there was still a fair amount of snow on the mountain.  Snowmaking guns spraying water to ensure there was mud. Our first opportunity to check out the water was in the "Boa Constrictor", 30 inch (maybe) tubes that link together. It was nice that they gave us a small break in the middle, but we were in crawling in the water. Then we headed uphill to find a "Tire Run", "Tree Hugger" climb and our next dip in the water.  This water obstacle is called "Ball Shrinker", a rope bridge through I am guessing 40ish degree weather. Oh yeah, and with a snowmaking gun spraying water across the pond. As we looked at those already crossing we were strategizing when someone said just go, and pull yourself with the top rope if you lose your footing. They were right!  Once again uphill to find more mud than a pig could have fun with in the "Mud Mile" and the "Kiss of Mud". At the top of the course we find an amazing pile of wood. Yes, you guessed it, carrying a log up and down the hill for the "Hold Your Wood" obstacle.  

Now we head back down the hill, to jump over the hay bale and then run up the "Evil Knevil". This you need other mudders to assist you to the top. You run down the hill and up a slippery slope hoping to catch a hand of a fellow mudder to get you over the top so you can use a rope to get you off the top. And back uphill to find the "Spider's Web" and the "Mystery Event".  This obstacle happened to use one of Vermont's most popular products - Maple Syrup.  We had to climb through the sugar shack in thigh deep maple syrup and then crawl under a netting that was lying on the wood chips!! 

Now there are two obstacles that are feared, the first of the two is the "Plank Walk". We had to climb onto a platform 15 feet over the water and jump.  This water was no warmer than the water of "Ball Shrinker" and this time we went all the way under and had to swim out. Thankfully someone from the night before gave us the little tip of jump off the left side, meant you had a shorter distance to swim to get out. THANKS for that tip!

Now we are head downhill through the "Underwater Tunnels" to find the "Glacier", "The Gauntlet"and the slippery slope of the "Cliff Hanger".

With seven obstacles to go we are feeling cold, but still can handle at least 7 of the 8. Now into the "Blood Bath". There are 4 vats of colored water that look like Kool-Aid with ice cubes in them.  So we climb up, in, under water and out quickly, BRRR cold!! We have to now tackle the "Funky Monkey". The monkey bars are over what else, water! And some of the rungs are coated with butter. We chose to take the over the top route. And then head to the "Berlin Walls". Once again there are other teams there that are offering to help anyone over the 12ft. walls.  

The next obstacle is the "Tower Hurdles" which takes you into "Fire Walker".  The Fire Walker is not scary, we ran through two rows of hay bales on fire. It was just smokey. A quick trip the the "Turd's Nest" before what we believe to the be the most fun obstacle "Greased Lightening", another name for water slide! But this one dumps you into the 2nd of the feared obstacles "Electric Shock Therapy".  How would you feel about running through "live" wires while you are soaking wet? 

We survived, we all decided we would definitely do it again!

A short video of one teams experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLmLN-YIvOU