Tough Mudder Virginia - Final Installment

If you haven't read any of my posts about the Mudder yet, read the first one here and the second one here . To start with today's blog, I've walked/jogged a couple of miles and done some climbing over and under things. After the last of the long walking/jogging area, we came upon the second and last set of Berlin Walls. The first set was only 8 feet high. These, however, were 12 feet. Upon my first sight of them, I felt rather discouraged. The closer I got, the higher they became. I got in line and slowly inched closer and closer as the people in front of me went up and over. Standing next to me was a blond girl in a pink shirt. She was shorter than me and looked just as terrified as I felt. I struck up conversation with her and we discussed the logistics of getting over the wall and down the straight drop on the other side. It seemed pretty straightforward; just very, very high.

We reached the wall and I offered to help the other girl over, but she opted to watch me do it first. So, pushing aside my trademark indecision, I walked up to the wall and began the ascent. There's a small, useless foothold toward the bottom, but I put one foot on it and the other foot in someone's hands. Chad and another guy hoisted me up to the top where I swung one leg over and then looked down and became instantly terrified. Watching the others go down, I decided it would be simple. Just lower myself to where I could hang on with my hands and jump from there. Well, something went wrong and my hands slipped off before I could catch myself and I hit the ground hard. My feet hit first and then my butt. I got up and turned to face the other wall. I didn't want to do it. Then Chad came over the first wall and asked if I was ready, so up I went. I got down the other side without incident and then sat while I waited for him to follow.

My ankles were hurting pretty bad at this point so when Chad started off at a jog, I fell behind. I wanted to work out the injury before going at a faster pace. Finally, we reached the illusive Mystery Obstacle, which was something called a Smoke Chute. Basically, it's a very large slide. I'm not sure exactly how tall it was, but definitely taller than the Berlin Walls. We had to climb a ladder up to the top while a vicious lady with a fire hose made sure we stayed wet and cold. Everyone hated her. I climbed as fast as I could and then hid myself in the little cubby hole that started the chute. I thought it was going to be a slide. Nothing awful about that. The problem I found at the top, however, was that it started as a vertical drop before ending in a slide.

Now, if there's one thing you need to know about me right now, it's that one of my phobias is a fear of falling. This obstacle gave me no choice but to let myself fall. I dangled my feet over the edge for a few seconds and tried to figure out if there was a better way to start this thing. I realized that the only way to do it was to simply drop. So, I placed my feet on a wall in front of me, edged myself over the side and then let go. It was a terrible, terrible feeling. To me, it was worse than the Chernobyl Jacuzzi. My heart jumped into my throat and I let out a scream that would wake the dead. When I reached the bottom, I was sliding so fast there was no way I could control what I was doing. I simply had to hope that I didn't hit anything hard. I slid to a stop in the mud and everyone who had come out before me looked shaken up and somewhat injured. Chad was doubled over holding his arms, saying he thinks he broke his elbows.  (He didn't.)

On we went, down a very steep slope. A girl came down beside us in emotional turmoil. She was crying and said she didn't even do the Smoke Chute because all she could hear was people cursing and getting hurt. I knew exactly how she felt, even though I was feeling almost invincible. The hill was long and slippery and when we got to the bottom and rounded the curve, there was Everest. This is a quarter pipe which is oiled that you have to run up and grab on to someone at the top before you fall down. There was a very long line for it, as it was incredibly difficult and took most people more than one try. We waited in line for close to an hour, getting colder and stiffer every minute. I got close to the front but knew it would still be a bit of a wait for me to even try it, so I opted out of it. My muscles were so stiff there was no way I was going to get up that wall. I walked around it and waited while Chad came over it, emotionally scarred.

I have problems with my right hip flexor and it had been bothering me on and off the whole day. Now that I was so cold and my muscles were so tight, it was torturing me and I had another hill to climb. At the top of the hill was the Fire Walker. This was a path lined with fire and full of smoke. I started it at a walk but had to end it at a run because the smoke in my lungs was one of the most painful experiences of the day. Last but not least, straight ahead was Electroshock Therapy, and then the finish line. Chad had been talking about this obstacle all day, afraid to go through it. Before you get to it, you have to get hosed down one last time. We stared it down for a few seconds and then Chad took off toward it, so I took off after him. I could hear the live wires snapping on each other all around me. At first I was able to get through without touching any wires, but to get over some strategically placed hay bales I had to touch a few. I lucked out, though, because none of the wires I touched actually shocked me.

Finally, there was the finish line! Chad and I looked at each other and took off toward it at a sprint. I saw a big dip in the ground in front of me, and instead of doing the smart thing at the pace I was going and jumping over it, I stepped into it. My body was too weak to handle the jolt and down I went. I fell right on my belly, my chin hit the ground, and the crowd and announcer all yelled "OOHHHH" in unison. Chad came back for me, helped me up, and we crossed the finish line together. I felt tears in my eyes at this point. I was so happy to be done, and so frustrated that I fell, I was shaking. I grabbed my orange headband and stuck it on my head. Then I grabbed a protein shake which I had to have Chad open for me and got my shirt and my beer.

I was freezing at this point and couldn't stop myself from shaking for a long time. But I drank that beer, got my bag, and made sure to get some pictures before I changed out of my cold, wet, muddy clothes.

My chin is a little bloody and my lips are a lovely bluish-purple.

Mud from head to toe.

My favorite shot of the day. We look pretty badass.

I then changed clothes, got a burger and Gatorade, bought another shirt and then we left for our 3 hour drive home. So, if you're thinking of doing a Tough Mudder, I say go for it! Just make sure you train hard and no matter how tired you get, stay positive and finish strong!

Here is my final tally of injuries: Small cut and bruise on my chin; Right elbow was scraped and swollen; Right knee was bruised, scraped and swollen; Large bruise on the inside of my right thigh and also one on my butt; and various bruising all along my arms and legs. My ribcage was very tender and every single one of my muscles has been very sore and stiff.

Tough Mudder Virginia - Part II

Alright, if you haven't read yesterday's blog, read it before continuing. After the first couple of miles in the Mudder, I was feeling tired but also very invigorated. I was ready to tackle this thing.

Here's where the fun stuff really starts. It's the obstacle everyone fears and always remembers how they felt going through it. You've seen the awful pictures and heard the terrible stories. Yes...the Chernobyl jacuzzi. Basically, this is a dumpster full of gross colored water full of ice. You have no choice but to simply plunge in. With Chad on my right and another mudder on my left, the three of us stood there staring at it for several moments. Chad and the guy on my left finally lowered themselves in slowly and started toward the middle, where you're forced to plunge your head under to get on the other side of a plank with barbed wire on top. I debated jumping in after hearing some people talk about jumping in as close to the middle as possible. But, I ended up following the lead of the other two and lowering in on the edge. I think at this point my adrenaline reached an all-time high because I don't remember being as cold as everyone else. I was very cold, though. Once I reached the middle I couldn't allow myself any time to gear up for going under. I just plunged under, came up the other side, and swam to the other edge. However, upon reaching the edge I realized that it was very high and I had no way to get myself out. Chad had already taken off in fear of hypothermia, so I thought I was on my own. Luckily, some other mudders were behind me, saw me struggling, and pushed me out. I yelled my thanks and took off screaming like a banshee.

In that moment, emerging from that dumpster, I felt incredible. Yes, I was cold. Yes, my limbs were numb. But, if I'm going to be honest, I've never felt so alive in my whole life. My screams were half from fear and shock of being the coldest I've ever been but also from sheer joy of being alive and running through the mud in a beautiful place with a bunch of other fun, motivated people. It was simply fabulous. I felt like laughing and crying and screaming all at once.

After the jacuzzi was the next obstacle of climbing up and over a cargo net. People on the other side were taking turns anchoring the bottom. When I reached the other side of it, the girl who had been beneath me looked like she was going to pass out, so I took her place and the next guy after me took mine. It was a good system. Then there was climbing over and under logs, scrambling over rocks, and then reaching Twinkle Toes. This involved planks about 3 inches wide suspended over freezing cold water. Walking across those planks was very challenging, especially when I got to the middle because they were swaying terribly. But, I've always prided myself on my balance and I managed to get to the other side without going into the water.

The hardest times in the race were simply all the mountains/ski slopes we had to go up and down. In Hold Your Wood, we had to pick up a log and carry it up and then back down some tubing hills. I chose a log that would be heavy enough to be challenging but not so heavy that I wouldn't be able to carry it the whole time. I knew that was the right choice when I was half way up the hill and a group of guys was off to the side sitting on their logs. After trudging up another ridiculously steep hill (suffice it to say you almost had to bear crawl to get up it, people were sitting/lying off to the side every 20 feet, and it was probably a whole mile long), we had to crawl under barbed wire placed 8 inches off the ground. I didn't foresee this as being as hard as it was. The ground underneath was hard and rocky and putting my elbows and knees into it was quite painful. Luckily, after that obstacle was an aid station with bananas! A banana has never tasted so good or felt so fulfilling.

Then there were miles of simply walking/jogging through and around a golf course. This was the best part because it allowed some recuperation and it was simply beautiful. Then there was climbing over/under more logs, jumping up hay bales (very tall ones, which most of us mudders needed assistance with), and the mystery obstacle. I'm going to save the mystery obstacle and the finish of the Mudder for tomorrow.

Tough Mudder Virginia - Part I

Well, the Tough Mudder has come and gone and I'm still standing (sort of). It was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I used to say that about Insanity, but no longer! I'm still surprised I actually did it. I learned a lot about myself yesterday. I'm going to do this Mudder blog in a series so that it doesn't become a novel.

Our start time was at 9:40am and it's about a three hour drive. So, at 4am we were getting out of bed, eating a protein-filled breakfast and heading out the door. I made sure I had a 2-part breakfast so I could eat closer to start time as well. The night before I packed all my extra clothes and what-not so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning.

We arrived about two hours before our start time and parking took forever, so that was ok.

Here we are right after parking. Still intact.

We took a shuttle up to the resort and went through registration. We signed our Death Waiver (yes, that's what they call it), got our number written on our head and arm, and put on our bib.

Death Waiver

 Then we went into the starting area and watched the group before us go out with gusto. It was quite emotional. Once that wave went, we went into the starting corral. After some awesome music, a motivational speech and the National Anthem, we went out into the Braveheart Charge. You just run and scream and get hosed down with freezing cold water. The charge then turns up a hill and starts going up a very steep slope. I attempted to keep my pace up but ended up walking rather quickly, as did everyone else. 

At the top of the hill was the first set of Berlin Walls. Two 8-foot tall walls that you must scale. They weren't too bad. Chad helped me over and someone else helped him over and we were on our way. That's the awesome thing about Tough Mudder. It's not a race; it's a challenge. You're required to help people along the way. Many obstacles are impossible to do without help. Especially for those of us with little upper body strength. 

The Gauntlet was where we simply climbed over large hay bales while being doused with frigid water. Climbing the bales was pretty simple, but it's hard when the bales are soaked and it's pouring water on you that's so cold all you can think about is getting to the end.

After that we hiked another steep hill and almost at the top had to crawl under a low cargo net. We all decided to bear crawl it so we could hold the net up with our butts. Quite genius. Now, I don't remember exactly what order all the obstacles were in, but I'll try my best to keep them somewhat correct. I do remember that the Funky Monkey (monkey bars on an A-frame) was where I first got really wet. Chad went first and made it almost all the way across before falling. I knew I wasn't going to make it far, but I gave it my best. The bars weren't secure so when you grabbed them they rotated. I think I got 3 or 4 bars in before I fell. Then I trudged through the water to the other side where Chad and some other guy helped me up. 

I think after that was the Boa Constrictor. You have to crawl down a pipe into a pool of cold water and then up another one. I was worried about this because I thought the water was going to come up really high into the pipe, but it didn't. The worst thing about it was the rocks under your knees.

I'll end this blog here. Watch for another one tomorrow.

Our Mudder clothes in the washing machine.

Out of Shape

Chad and I went to the gym yesterday to get out of the cold weather. We did some upper body exercises, ran on the treadmill, stair machines and elliptical. I have to admit, my running skill is not up to par. I still have trouble breathing and I know my legs are not as strong as they could be. I think I'll be going to the gym more often to use the stair machines and get my legs back where they should be.

Since my mother-in-law passed away last month, I've let depression take it's toll on me. I've been moving less and eating more. I'm still in decent shape compared to most people, but compared to how I used to be I'm very much out of shape. I've gained around 15 pounds. If I'm going to complete the Tough Mudder on the 23rd of this month I'm really going to have to kick my butt.

I know this Mudder is going to be very difficult for me, but I'm still determined to finish it. Even if I end up having to walk most of it, I don't care as long as I finish it. Once the Mudder is over I think I'm going to go for the Insanity/Asylum hybrid. I need to keep myself in shape this winter. I always get seasonal depression, so I'm going to have to work extra hard to get myself to the gym and stay positive.

Any tips for my Mudder training? Also, how do you stay positive when the weather gets nasty?