http://www.muddymommy.com
7:15am, Saturday morning, I arrived at the top
Last September I participated in the inaugural
of a mountain in the middle of rural Pennsylvania
Hardcore Mudd Run. It was brutal. We encountered
in anticipation of an unforgettable race. I took in
bone chilling temperatures, driving rain, insane
the small group of shivering racers who had already
elevation change, and a gauntlet of challenging
arrived as they pinned on their bibs, and then
obstacles. This combination of factors resulted
glanced at the dash of trucks we had ridden in for
in a nearly soul crushing event that
the one hour drive, it taunted me by displaying an
took my team and I roughly 5 hours
outdoor temperature of 39 degrees.
to complete. We finished that race
39 degrees. My goodness… I’m glad I’m a Florida girl.
battered and bruised, but feeling as
I began the day by stating that I was not planning
to leave the car and race until the temperature
outdoors reached 60 degrees. Finally realizing that
holding out for that might mean I wouldn’t race
at all, I took a deep breath and conquered my first
challenge of the day by stepping out into the brisk
air and preparing to take on a race that nearly broke
me last year. It was time for a second
chance at Hardcore Mudd Run.
35
though we had just conquered
Mount Everest.
I can honestly say that last year’s HMR is the
only race to date that I have ever come close to even
considering throwing in the towel. Which is why I
recently found myself back in Pennsylvania, toeing
the start line of the very event that had challenged
my grit and resolve to finish just one year prior. I
was ready to take on HMR for a second time. I was
ready for redemption.
One of my favorite things about this HMR
event was that it was vastly different from last