My day started around 5:40 am, my wife and I woke up and drove to Dade City to get ready for the Tough Mudder adventure. Needless to say I was nervous, I had not really trained for this...my training consisted of me getting off the couch and running a few miles, but nothing compared to what I was about to experience. After signing in, including signing the death waver. Erin and I waited patiently for my start time at 9:40 am.
After spending some time in the port-potty I made my way to the start line to take the pledge with all the other mutters...
As a Tough Mudder I pledge that…
* I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
* I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
* I do not whine – kids whine.
* I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
* I overcome all fears.
They started pumping out "the eye of the tiger" the gun went off and we were off.
The first obstacle we came to was Steeple Chase, jumping over horse hurdles. You could easily break an ankle on this one if you were not looking where you were jumping. I actually can not find anyone who has pics of this obstacle.
The second obstacle was the Chernobyl Jacuzzi, which is basically like jumping into a giant dumpster sized slushy, you had to totally immerse yourself...and to say it was cold was an understatement. It took your breathe away.
Next obstacle was the underwater tunnels, we waded out in water then swam under barrels. Not too hard but I was still out of breathe from the slushy.
The next obstacle was the Kiss of mud, we crawled military style through the mud and cow poo, under barbed wire.
Obstacle 5 was the mystery obstacle...and the easiest obstacle...we ran through hanging tires.
Obstacle 6 was the spider web- we climbed a high net, pretty shaky but very cool how many people were helping one another.
Obstacle 7 was Bale Bonds...just climbing over stacks of hay...pretty easy.
Obstacle 8 was called modified I think...basically there was a rope that you were trying to stay above water on and get to the other side, I just dropped my lower body in the water and pulled myself across. I needed to be cooled off a bit and I went so fast this way that i ran into the girl in front of me.
Obstacle 9 was the Berlin Wall, I actually had a pretty easy time with this and didn't need anyones help...you had to make your way over a few 8 foot walls.
Obstacle 10 was The Trenches aka Velociraptor...these were very surprising...basically you were wading through the swamp about knee deep and every once in a while you would find yourself falling into a 5 foot hole....we did this twice on the course. the second time was around mile 10 and I cramped up bad.
Obstacle 11 was twinkle toes...you just had to make your way across a very shaky two by four and not fall into the water. This had the greatest wait because of the amount of people running. I did very good on this one, about 30 people in front of me fell in...I made it all the way across and did it very fast. Can't say that about every obstacle.
Obstacle 12 was the devils beard- this might have been harder had I not just got right behind some huge dude and let him lift the net for me.
Obstacle 13 was the boa constrictor- this was the one I was most scared of going in tho the competition...but it wasn't bad at all...the worst part was how slow the guy in front of me was.
Obstacle 14 was walk the plank....we had to climb up a 15 to 20 foot wall then jump into the water...this one actually scared me more then i was expecting it to, and I have to admit I panicked a little bit when I was under the water. I also got screamed at by a marine for touching the rail...made me feel like I was in the military.
Sorry for the length of this but I want you to experience it with me....I will finish part 2 after my meeting today.
