Around the end of May, beginning of June, mom wanted our payments. I scrapped up $40 to do the run and gave it to mom so she could begin the registration process. We talked Erika, Zach and Doug into running with us. Unfortunately, Ben had a 24 hour shift that day so he couldn't partake in the activities.
As the date got closer, mom told us that her gym was going to have a BBQ after the run and that we could all come. She asked what I would like to bring because they had a sign up sheet. I told her I would contribute pickles, lettuce and chips so she wrote my name down on the list. She also said that she would have team shirts for us to wear at the run as well. A few days before, mom asked if I knew of anyone who would want to run. I asked her why. She said some of the people who wanted to and paid for it couldn't do it now. I said might want to ask Megan and Matt since I know they were in town and could possibly want to do it.
The day before I got all of my stuff together. I had gotten our packets from mom earlier that week so we had all of our shirts, swag and bib. I found my shoes, socks, underwear from last year. I figured I might as well ruin them more than they already were. I got some snacks together because I really wouldn't have time to eat breakfast and probably shouldn't eat a giant breakfast anyway since our heat started at 9ish. This year I brought the GoPro because I wanted some pictures of us during the race. Often, we don't get the good action shots by the photo people who work for the venue. Plus, you have to pay for them afterwards if you are in any of them.
In the morning I got everyone up and ready, went and picked Doug up from his house and then headed into Rainier to meet with mom. We decided on taking one vehicle to the run because it costs $10 to park. We got to mom and dad's house around 7:30 just in time for all of us to jump into mom's Expedition with our stuff and head towards McCleary and the ORV Sport Park. We wanted to get there somewhat early so we could get a good parking spot and try to wrangle up everyone for some group photos before it was our turn to run the course. It really didn't take us that long to get there, in fact, we were pretty much the first group of runners to pay and park.
We sat in the Expedition while we got ready and ate bananas and protein bars. More people were starting to arrive around 8:45 so we decided it was probably time to get out and start stretching. I walked over to the registration tent with mom and Erika to look at some of the merchandise they had. I wanted one of those facemask or "buffs" that you could wear on your head, face or neck. I saw one and bought it. It was going to come in handy at the obstacle that shoots mud at your upper body.
Mom started to gather everyone for photos. We got a family shot, a Yelm Dental shot and a Move Strong shot.
We had to remember to grab some group shots after the race when we are all muddy. We made our way over to the starting line and the people who ran the starting line were outta control. We got sprayed with the hose, there was a hula hoop dance off and lots of cheering and yelling. I knew they were amping us up for what was ahead of us. I was going to stay with mom because I knew she was going to need some help with some of the obstacles.
This year the beginning of the race was a little different. This time we went through the pond before we climbed over the walls. Then we ran about a half a mile before our next set of obstacles. I tried to keep jogging and looking back to make sure mom was still behind me. Most of the obstacles were gooey mud pits, tubes and tires at the beginning of the run and it didn't take us long to get through them. We headed up a small hill where you had the choice of chugging a beer if you were 21 or older or a root beer if you desired. I didn't chug any of them because it would be harder to run on a full stomach sloshing around. There, I saw Leslie, whom I worked with in Retro, and her wife Tiffany. I took a picture of them with the GoPro. Later, I sent her the photo through Facebook.
As we ran the trail and headed down to the next pit, I remembered from last year which pit we were approaching. It was the one with the cannon that shot mud into your face. This year, I was prepared. I pulled my "buff" over my ears and off into the pit I went. I did get shot in the face a few times but this time none of it went in my ears. The next obstacle was running up a really long steep hill...in shoes with no tread. It made it harder to make it up the hill especially after a couple hundred people already ran through here and made the hill really slippery. I had to find places off of the side of the trail to climb up. This year I thought the hill was harder just because it was so darn slippery. Going down was just as bad because you didn't want to slip and then fall hard on your ass.
One of my favorite obstacles, the giant waterslide, was fun to slide down. I went down on my butt but didn't make it to the edge because it wasn't slippery enough to make it all the way down. The water pit underneath of the slide was at least chest high in some spots.
When we got to the bottom, it was an open field with a few wooden walls, ropes and cargo nets to climb up and over. The wooden walls with the ropes were the obstacles I had to help mom over. We sloshed through a couple more pits, a blow up maze and close to the end of the course was another water slide but this one was steeper and shorter. That one launched you into the pit of water and mud. It was awesome!
The finish line was shortly after. We all crossed it, received our metal, took event sponsored pictures, grabbed water, a banana and a granola bar and moved off to the side to wait for everyone else for our group pictures. Eventually everyone crossed the finish line and we got our group photos.
Everyone got cleaned up and headed their separate ways. I caught up with Megan and Matt to ask if they had fun since I wasn't running it with them. They said they had a blast and would probably do another one in the future. They also thanked us for asking if they wanted to come since we had some extra spots to fill. I told them about the BBQ at the gym if they wanted some food and they said they would think about it.
I finally got cold and wanted out of my muddy clothes. I took my muddy clothes off and wiped myself down as best as I could so I could put on dry clothes. I had planned on showering when we got home. We gathered up everyone and headed back towards Lacey, we dropped off Doug at his house because he wasn't interested in going to the BBQ and we stopped by my house to drop off Erika and Zach and I quickly took a shower before taking mom home so she could get cleaned up before the BBQ. Erika and Zach would meet us there for a while. After my shower, I took mom back into Rainier so she could get her shower and the food she was suppose to bring.
She showered, got clean clothes on, grabbed her stuff and we took two separate cars to the gym in Rainier. I had planned on heading home from there when we were done. When we got there, I helped mom bring all the stuff she had for the BBQ. She bought plates, plastic silverware, napkins, chips, ice etc. It was crazy how much stuff she brought. We had burgers, hotdogs, all the fixings, fruit, veggies, chips and salads. The food was tasty and we got to meet some of the people she does the gym with. Megan and Matt did come for a little bit. I did chat with some of her gym people, especially Emily MacFarland, whom I've heard of but never officially have met. We all had a good chat.
It was time to go home so I thanked everyone and headed out. I was ready for a nap. I got home and relaxed the rest of the day away. My body was starting to get sore and I could feel it. I did do some stretches throughout the day. I watched some shows while I tried to get caught up on my blogs. I am excited for next year!
Next Adventure: Debbie Doolittle's Animal Experience
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