WTF did I sign up for here?
After posting a 5K PB a few weeks ago, I thought this would be a lovely way to spend a Saturday and it supports a great cause.
Joey, Jennifer, Darwin and I (Team Darwin) all headed to the zMax part of the Charlotte Motor Speedway to particpate in this race. Jennifer and Darwin would be the rooting section and Joey and I would be the runners.
After sliding down the fire pole, the start was a 1/4 mile sprint to the first obstacle, an easy jump over the wall. Joey pulled away from me right away. The next test was a low and a high cargo net. The low one was a little harder because it was not very stable.
A short jog later, we picked up a tire and ran around a short lap. After dropping the tire, a little further up the trail had us going through a 2-3 foot deep stream. No problem so far, but for many people who aren't used to running through the woods, the creek freaked them out.
Then it was a climb out of the creek and a trail run to waiting CPR dummies. 30 compressions gets you a pass and after another short trail run, was the surprise mud pit (this race prides itself on no mud, but whatever). Another half K on the trail led you to the crowd control obstacle, a bunch of hanging tires and tires on the ground. Jennifer and Darwin where here to give encouragement.
Moving on takes you to another tire carry, this time, two tires, and an over wall, an under wall and a sprint to the finish. Dropping the tires and another 200 yard dash to a ladder up into the "smoke house". This is a shipping container filled with junk and smoke. This is also where the lines started.
After climbing down some cargo netting and a dip down (and up!!) a valley, it was time for the rope climb, 3 rope bridge.
After balancing my way down the bridge and another 300 yard dash, came the hardest obstacle, the towering inferno!
Imagine climbing up a drain pipe 20 feet (keep in mind the drainpipe is 3 feet in diameter and come to think of it, so am I) while water is showering down, and I mean showering down on you. You worm your way up and through some wood to the top. Once at the top, you slide down a tarp into a shallow pool. Let's just say it felt like I hit the water at 100 MPH.
Coming up for air I'm thinkin, hey I'm almost done. I would be wrong.
After another 1/4 mile jog (I was actually still jogging at this point) and running on the dirt track, I came to the stretcher carry. Basically more tires (they love them some tires at hero rush!) through an obstacle course, barbed wire and all. I dropped my tires and now I am almost done...yea right.
Another jog and three skips over fire, you come to the foam obstacle. More pipes, filled with foam. Yum!
Okay, now I can see the bleachers, how far away could I be?
Down into a dark tunnel for the next obstacle. More sewer pipes, but these have a spider web of ropes that you have to weave your way through in the dark. Those 100 pushup worksouts came in handy here.
Up out of the tunnel, still jogging, (ha ha) and what is this? A water stop? This close to the end? Uh-Oh!
Around the corner and the spectators take a shot at spraying you with a fire hose (the advantage of beign slow: when you get here, they have lost interest).
Now I run into a nice gentleman who tells me to pick up that 200lb (okay maybe it was 40) hose and run up the stands with it, back down, up again and back down. WTF WTF WTF, what I am I a Navy Seal? (nope). Someone asked me how high the bleachers were. I think I could see Russia from those bleachers.
So now I gotta be almost done right? Just a few more surprises.
Another 50 yards and you come to the hazardous material pit. Don't know how to describe this, think baby oil and jello. You have to squirm under some barrels fully submerged. But hey, at this point, I am hangin by a thread anyway.
Now the final turn for home. I can see the finish line 300 yards away and I start running (okay, I thought I was running, I was probably crawling). Wait, what is this? Cones are directing me to what? Oh it's a smoky maze I have to crawl through on my hands and knees. No problemo! Out of the maze and cross the finish line. 5K, 20 or so obstacles, 2.5ish hours. Wow. Lots of fun.
One of the staff I ran in to on the course told me "This is the hardest race we ever did" Thanks for telling me now! And I lost my wedding ring to boot!
Still great fun all in all. What's next?
