Muddy but Fun - the CarX Crazy K

How to describe the fun CarX Crazy K race yesterday? Yes, it was fun. Yes, it was a bit challenging. Yes, I fell during the obstacles. Yes, I fell into a big hole of muddy water. Yes, it was hot, hot, hot.

Did I mention it was crazy? I remember thinking exactly that as I ran through the course and its obstacles.

The race proceeds go to local charities, and it's an event sure to be repeated in future years.

The details - a 5K course that wound through the county fairgrounds - mainly through grassy fields, across creeks, up and down hilly terrain, with the last half mile on the grandstand's track. The obstacles (and my experience):

1. Sprinkler alley - refreshing until I almost lost a contact lens while being sprayed directly the face
2. Plank Walk - walk across logs over a big pit of water. I chose the skinniest log and almost fell off.
3. CarX Wall - A 4 foot high wall. I strained my left leg going over this thing.
4. Tirade - a sea of tires. I planned to run these, but I didn't step carefully into the first tire and fell down. Scott said he would have burst out laughing if he wasn't "so focused" on the race.
5. Hurdles - 10 - 2 foot high hurdles. After my tire episode, I knew I had to walk over these. It was a good time to drink some water.
6. Tunnels - crawl through 3 foot high tunnels. I have a scraped back because I refused to crawl through on my hands and knees.
7. Muddy Hill Climb - at mile 2.6, this was slippery and steep. I almost fell several times. Caked with mud, my shoes were now 5 pounds heavier.
8. Hay Maker - Climb over large hay bales. I am way short for this sort of obstacle, but managed to get over it.
9. Slip-N-Slide Car Wash - This was the most fun - a slip and slide covered with foam. Sure, you landed in a big puddle on the bottom, but it was fun.
10. Muddy Crawl - The last obstacle - a watery, muddy pit, about 2 feet deep. I slipped at the edge and fell in. I sloshed through and up over the muddy bank and ran to the finish line, shoes full of rocks, water and mud.

Our team - the couples we visited Vegas with last November (proving we are a motley crew) and another couple, Dave and Anne. I'm waiting on a copy of the group picture a non-running friend took, but here are several of our team walking towards the starting gate:


Scott finishing the race:


Amy and Anne coming out of the Muddy Pit:


Jeff and Lisa, so cute as they end the race holding hands:


And the ladies from our team - proving we are a strong group to complete the race:


Oh yeah, I wore a costume - an old cave girl costume I've had since college. I've put it out for sale at the garage sale for the past 5 years. I guess it's never sold because I was destined to wear it again. Maybe this is a new tradition for me - run the future Crazy 5K wearing the same outfit.....