I am NOT an athlete. Hell, I’m not even a
internal itch. Of course, any time I commented on
“runner”. I think a more accurate description would
how cool they looked, Vivian would quickly suggest
be that I’m just moving my feet slightly faster than
that Randy and I get out there for a race. It was quite
normal while trying not to die from poor breathing.
possibly the craziest idea ever, but still I couldn’t
Yet, I am absolutely hooked on mud runs! How on
help but think, just maybe…
earth did that happen?
Back in February, I had this grand idea that we
I became the nagging wife. Pictures, videos,
websites, anything I could find about mud runs, I
should sign up for one of those crazy color runs.
shared with Randy. I was even on the MudRunFun
A whole three miles! Now for most of you, that’s a
site scoping things out. I was driving him absolutely
walk in the park, but not for me. I hadn’t seen the
crazy. He was curious, but not taking the bait and
inside of a gym in years, had a baby who was barely
I still wasn’t entirely convinced I could handle the
over a year old, and participated in no regular form
challenge. I am afraid of heights, can’t climb a rope,
of exercise. Once upon a time, I was in amazing
and forget about monkey bars! I’d watch course
shape and working part time as a personal trainer.
videos on YouTube and my eye out for anyone who
A 5k, probably even a mud run, would have been
looked to be in about the same shape I was in. It’s
much more suitable for me at that time, but ten
terrible to judge, I know, but seeing people with
years later, umm, not exactly.
more body fluff than me was motivating. If they can
My husband, Randy, was supportive, but
suggested I run with my stepson. Randy’s in great
shape, but he’s not a runner and colored cornstarch
do it, why can’t I? At least, that’s what I kept telling
myself.
Soon we were seeing posts for Hog Wild’s 18
just wasn’t enough to entice him. Anthony and I
Holes of Hell. August was still a few months away, so
began our training, and while I wasn’t a great runner
I had time to train. Randy, Anthony and I were all
and I always sound like I would die, I was able to
signed up and, I’ll admit, the whole process gave me
run a full 3 miles. When May came around, we
heart palpitations. I wasn’t able to sleep that night,
rocked that run! We felt so exhilarated and confident
wondering what craziness I had gotten us into.
and we couldn’t wait to do it again. I knew that if I
didn’t have a reason to get outside and run, I would
fall into my old, lazy habits. I had to find another
event and fast!
I spent the summer training as well as I could
with P90x, Insanity, burpees and running. I bought
a pull-up bar in the hopes that I may stand a
chance against anything resembling monkey bars.
Meanwhile, my friend Vivian kept posting all
Considering I couldn’t do a real pull up, I felt the
these awesome mud run photos on Facebook. I
odds were stacked against me. As the weeks drew
was intrigued, but intimidated. None of our other
near, my sleep became more restless. I couldn’t lie
friends would ever consider an event like this. The
down at night without thinking about the upcoming
bragging rights alone could be worth it. The more
race. I even had dreams about obstacles!
pictures I came across, the more I began to feel that
On the morning of 18 Holes, I was a nervous