Sunday, June 07, 2009

Off the Beaten Path: MudRun Race Report!

2008 edition here.

We picked up our friends and rolled into the Claireville Conservation Area around 8:30 this morning. We scored a great parking spot right near the start so we were able to keep warm and dry in the car after picking up our kits. It was a cool and damp morning, but after last year's scorching heat we were not complaining.



Before shot of Team Nucking Futs.


The race started 15 minutes late due to late registrations and kit pick-up (just like last year). It's a great event, but pretty unorganized.

We finally got started and followed the first part of the route along a dirt road. We had been told that we would run an out-and-back along this road for the first 2.5K, but within about 1K we were directed onto a trail in the woods by a course marshall. Big oops! We would find out later on that this trail was for the 5K runners only and we should have continued straight until a turn-around point.

We continued along narrow trails in the woods and through fields of tall grass, avoiding logs and brush blocking the trail. We navigated sharp turns and rugged terrain while facing several short, steep climbs (some of which offering a rope to pull ourselves up) and descents.



During the first half of the race we ran past the start/finish area where we climbed through tires and over a stack of haybales. I totally wiped out climbing down jumping off the hay and scuffed up my hands and knees. Fortunately, I didn't get trampled and someone stopped to help me up.

It wasn't long before we realized that we probably weren't following the correct route. Around 5K (according to my Garmin) a race official finally informed us that we had run the second half of the course and would now be directed to run the first part.



We encountered four river crossings along the way, one waist-deep. The trails became muddier and muddier as soaking wet runners slogged through. After one river crossing, we had to clamber up a steep muddy embankment which I continued sliding down until my teammates yanked me up.

Pretty soon we could hear the crowd at the finish line. I glanced at my watch and realized that our 'modified' course was under 8K (supposed to be 10). I was barely tired, which was somewhat disappointing. Last year I could barely stand up straight at the end. Also, the short course means we can't compare to our previous time, although I know we would have slaughtered it even on the full course.

We plowed through the mud pit of questionable content (it smelled like manure, so we were quite possible rolling in dung), hubby losing a shoe along the way.



Team Nucking Futs crossed the mat at just over 50 minutes (still waiting on official results).

My shoes have seen better days.



We showered off and changed into clean clothes, although we were still pretty muddy as we piled into the car. I'm pretty sure we scared off some customers when we stopped at Hero Burger for some lunch.



Despite the chaos, this is one of my favourite events and we're already talking about next year. But right now, I think I have some laundry to do.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

sounds like a heeluva fun race. Glad to see you stayed pretty clean compared to your running mates.

Mel-2nd Chances said...

glad the rain held off, although it may have cleaned you up a little easier! Well done, looks like a blast.

Anonymous said...

That looks like so much fun! I wish we had mud runs around here, but it hardly ever rains. Maybe when I move...

Unknown said...

That event looks like a complete BLAST!!

macnic said...

Looking Good! It was nice that that the rain held off. A lot of people I know had things on today (Ride for Heart, races etc) and the rain would have been a pain, though you guys might have enjoyed the "natural" shower!

teacherwoman said...

That sounds like so much fun! Great pics! And, I love the team name!

Erika said...

That looks like SO much fun!

MCM Mama

Anonymous said...

I love the pics! :) can't imagine the laundry machine is smellin too good right now, haha.

glad you had a good "race"!!

Jess said...

Looks like an awesome time, and i love your bib at the end!

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

awesome! I totally want to do a mud run one day, they look like so much fun!

EricaH said...

looks like some really messy fun. Not to often you get to play in the mud. :) Great pics and race report.

Jamie said...

That looks so fun! Great job!

Being Robinson said...

i fell in love with trail running this weekend. this race sounds KILLER. great job! it sounds like it was a blast.

Nancy D said...

That just looks like a blast! We have one in the Seattle area I just may have to check out. I have a few silly friends that would do it.

Anonymous said...

That sounds like it was a blast!!!! I'm definitely about to google for mud runs in my area right now!

Anonymous said...

You guys look like you had a blast!

Denise said...

That looks like SO much fun!!!

RunningLaur said...

Very cool! Sucks about the short course though. Boo.

chris mcpeake said...

Now what could be more fun then that? ... almost nothing

J said...

wow that looks intense! Too bad about going the wrong way on the course, i would be disappointed too because then the times couldn't be compared : (

I am sending all the sun from Florida to Canada for you!! and the warm temps!

Heather said...

That looks like tons of fun! Love the pics.

Lily on the Road said...

You look waaaayyyy too clean!!

X-Country2 said...

Oh my, I don't think I could do a race like that. The mud pit of questionable orgin might have been too much. You're a total rock star!

Runner Leana said...

Shame about the organization and about your course being shortened. Sounds like a lot of fun though! The fellow on the left of the picture really got into it!

Lindsay said...

mud runs are so fun. stinks about the course mishap though, hopefully next year you'll run one of the two courses/distances for a comparison :)

Unknown said...

That sounds like a GREAT time. It reminds me of my Living History Farms race here.

Aron said...

omgosh how fun!!!! looks like you had a blast :)

Felice Devine said...

Sounds like so much fun! Love the muddy pic.

Nitmos said...

That looks like fun. Great job!