Oh, look, I'm behind again. No surprise there. But this week has been full of bombs and puke and flooding - not a single day where all my kids were where they should have been (SCHOOL) - and consequently, things are a bit out of whack. MOVING ON.
Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of running the Muddy Monk Double Down, which is a local trail race (one of a series - if you haven't run a
Muddy Monk race, check them out and DO IT NOW. So awesome!). This race was unique in that you run a 10k loop, and then, if you're feeling great, you can run it again for a 20k. You get to decide this MID RACE.
The night before, I'll admit to not really feeling it. I was still pouting over missing out on everything fun that day due to a puking James, and was rather meh about the whole thing. UNTIL they posted an awesome picture on their
facebook page of 50 yards of ankle deep water we got to run through TWICE and suddenly I was all giddy about it again. Bring on the MUD!
Race morning was uneventful - easy drive, picked up my stuff, and plopped my butt in the backseat of Ed's car (where he and
Kim were waiting for the start) to wait it out with them. So far, the only thing of note was that it was freaking SNOWING. That water crossing was going to be chilly. Also of note was there was a birthday present waiting for me, which was a COMPLETE surprise (but really shouldn't have been - she DID tell me she was getting it for me, but I didn't believe her). A Nathan hydration vest!!! CAN'T WAIT TO RUN WITH IT! SQUEE!!! I don't think I could have been more excited. :)
My race plan was easy: play in the mud all day and have loads of fun with Kim and
Rachel. (spoiler: EXACTLY how it went down!) To that end, there were lots of pictures taken. Not by me. All photo credits go to Kim and Muddy Monk (who let you have your pics for free!).
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| potty line! remember how I said it was snowing? yeah, Mother Nature is on CRACK this year |
We made it to the start line JUST as the race began, and just like that, we were running. And chatting. And laughing. I can't remember when I've had more fun DURING a race. I see lots of trails in my future...
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| the first time through the water....brr! |
So there was all kinds of talk about the water - everyone sounded a little nervous about WHEN it would show up on the course. The general consensus was that people were hoping it was at the END of the 10k. Um no. We got through that pretty early on. And it was cold, but it was FUN.
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| Smiling!! |
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| mud! |
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| it was thick and sticky and shoe sucking |
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| our shoes/legs were hilariously muddy |
I would say that most of the course was pretty easy to run. It was all very flat. But the last mile of the loop was ridiculously muddy. It was a blast trying to get through it without losing your shoes and without ending up on your ass. It was sticky and slippery and awesome.
So of course we went for round 2! On the second loop, it was really quiet - I think there were only 89 20k finishers. So Kim was determined to get some good pics of the water crossing. Her plan was to run ahead and catch me and Rachel running through, but she convinced some guy to take some of all 3 of us ("DON'T drop my phone!") and she ran back through it so she could run through it AGAIN with us for the photo. Kim = badass!
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| I'm not sure I can convince you how much fun this was |
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| and for the record, it was WAY deeper the second time through |
Towards the end of the second loop, we picked up another runner, Joan, for a bit. She had tucked in behind us listening to our inane chatter, and we introduced ourselves while dancing at an aid station waiting for more water. LOVE that, too, about trail races - super friendly.
We did manage to finish, and not even last!
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| coming into the finish line |
And then there was lots of hot dogs (the best wiener I've had in FOREVER) and beer for everyone!
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| me, Brian and Ed (who waited for out slow asses) and Kim chatting with Art, the RD |
This race had everything I love. It was fun and laid back. I had a super time catching up with Rachel and Kim for the morning. The mud and water just made everything better. I would DEFINITELY do another Muddy Monk race, and I recommend them to all of you - if you are local, don't miss out.
Next up: the Earth Day 15 miler this Sunday. More trails! Post flooding, so they should be awesome!
Sounds great!!!! I hope next week is better for everyone!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! We can have matching vests on the trail :) I am guessing the trails will be wet for a long long time around here!
ReplyDeleteThat race looked so fun! I'm super excited to work with Art from Muddy Monk on the Run for Boston 5k. He is awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou are seriously amazing. And twisted. And amazingly twisted. Such a rock star for trudging through all of that and thinking it was fun. But I'm a big baby. Anyway ... I want to say happy birthday again because it's still your birthday week. I also want to know all about the vest and whether you like it. Hopefully the kids go back to school next week and life with some semblance of normalcy can resume.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I only spelled semblance correctly because of autocheck. Go me!
How fun does this look!! I want to try this out!! Congrats on the race
ReplyDeleteHad so much fun doubling down like you ladies. If its ever dry for one of my trail runs, I might need to sneak on the course and leave a hose on somewhere.
ReplyDeleteNathan vests rock. And I had years of running thru lakes like that in the rainforest. So, no. But glad you had fun.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I approach trail running in general. A long day with mud, yummy food, and my Nathan vest.
ReplyDeleteThe race looks like it was a lot of fun. Love the photos of the water crossing. :) (It's a good thing you didn't run the race this weekend instead of last weekend; the crossing would have been WAY different.) I love smaller races that are put on well. I find them more enjoyable than the giant races where you're elbow-to-elbow with gobs of people. Enjoy your new present and good luck with the 15 miler!
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun! I hope to be able to do the Muddy Monk race on Memorial Day weekend.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'd do this mud run. Just MAYBE. Glad you had an awesome time!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never done a mud run, maybe I am too wimpy, LOL. Looks like a ton of fun!
ReplyDeletelooks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat race - I'm too much of a wuss for a mud run or any of those adventure races, I'm always afraid I'll get hurt, but you rocked this one. The water looks miserable.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun! Hope you are ok with all the flooding. Fingers crossed we get a long break from rain.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that picture on Facebook made me SO jealous! I love that its what helped get you excited about the race. How fun! Wish I could've been there running with you. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a blast and I loved all the pictures!!! I've heard that these trail races are much more laidback than most road races, which sounds sublime right now. Yay for your new Nathan hydration vest - can't wait to hear how you like it!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the water crossing photos! While getting ready for my 100 I've missed that fun of charging through the mud and water. I've been playing it safer not wanting to get hurt. It looks like you guys were truly enjoying what trail running is! A Blast!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, it cracks me up that people thought this was mud run. I got those comments on my blog too. It was NOT a gimmicky mud run. Sometimes... gasp... there is mud... on trails... if it has rained! WHAT?!
ReplyDeleteWhoa. That came off super bitchy. Good thing I am commenting so late.
So. "inane chatter"? WHAT? Us, never!!! Ha ha ha.
Did you finally get your shoes clean? I left mine outside during the rain last week. Now they are clean again. Perfecto!!!
This was so much fun and I am happy we got to do it together. Trail races have such a fun vibe, and especially Art's. Even when Mother Nature is all screwed up the wazoo.
"Don't drop my phone!" Felt like a biznatch for saying that. LOL.
That looks like a BLAST! I want to do one! Trail races are a blast!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you guys had tons of fun!! Nice job!
ReplyDelete