The Tale of Mud

Good day ladies and gents! With the official video posting of Tough Mudder PA, going up this morning I think it's proper to tell you all just really what happened at Tough Mudder two weeks ago. 
Check it out: 

Tough Mudder PA 2011 Official Video

www.youtube.com
First off, there is no way to sum it up, one truly has to experience it for yourself. It's an exceptional event, for exceptional people, it's not for everyone. But if you dare and cross that finish line, I can promise you that you'll become obsessed!

Sign in, which reminds you that when you signed up, you have also previously signed a DEATH WAIVER. Once that paper work is cool, lets write with permeant marker on your forehead, arms and a third place of your wish. Don't be naughty, post it on your neck or leg. We decided ourselves to deck out with neon colors and painting poke-a-dots on our arms and back. That way just incase you find a random bright blob laying in the middle of the mud, you you could easily help a sister out.


As we headed to the starting line, we were interviewed by the Tough Mudder Media crew, and of course I had him take our picture with my camera. (thanks camera dude!)


Before the gun, you state the pledge and give respect to all the wounded warriors and great men and women who are serving our country. 

One of the first obstacles we crossed was a mudslide, fun right?! Not for me!... As Haley and Bri calming entered the pool of mud, I on the other hand had a freezing panic attack! Once I came up from the pool of mud, I fell into a deeper spot and went head under again. It was so cold and I was not one bit prepared. As we ran and ran and climbed and crawled and pulled our way up and over a few slopes, we came to Walking the Plank. No big deal, just climb up and jump off into a lake of freezing water. Again, this was not my strong point.
Rachael + Freezing water that you must
swim out of = Freaking out. 
  
The other two major water obstacles were two of my favorite obstacles within the entire corse! Twinkle Toes- waking across a 2 inch wobbly structure, and the Ball Shrinker - a swinging rope bridge in water. Haley got stuck with ten tall guys behind her on the bridge, causing her to swing and kick back and forth seeking the ropes to make it across. 
Next we kissed the mud while crawling under barb wire, climbed over a few "Berlin" Walls where Haley got thrown over by two huge men, and Briene kicked me in the face. We monkeyed through Greasy Monkey Bars and went for a cool long run in the woods. note: trails of rocks and fallen trees. 
The last part of the trail was the Swamp Stop. Perfect pools of mud at all different lengths and depths,while attacking logs over and under. Sprinting through fire thinking that were at the end, but wrong. There were just three hills, carrying a log, squirming through a spider web and the Electroshock Therapy left to approach. 


Lessons Learned:


I, Rachael am not the most graceful swimmer in freezing water/mud!  

Bri, runs and falls all over the place, head first with style and speed.


Haley, is scared to tears of Electroshocks and will call out and scare a grown man so she can get what she wants- a lighter log to carry up the hills. 

Briene and I trucking through the Swampy Trails.

A great photo of Haley marching through the mud pools!

One Orange Headband, Space Blanket, Cliff Bar, Banana, T-Shirt and a Beer later, we officially completed 12 miles and 25 obstacles in just under 4 hours! 

There were at least five spots dedicated to place shoes once you completed the event, and they are being donated to the Children in Africa!..how awesome is this event!  Here's to you ToughMudder. Save our snapshot and add it to the yearbook, you'll see us again!


P.S. I saved the most important and most funny part of the weekend for last. After a delicious dinner and some martinis with the amazing team, we held a beer auction in our hotel room. . . $10, $15, $6.50, SOLD!! 

Mudder Accomplished!

Thank You very much to all our friends and family members who supported our crazy adventure to Tough Mudder! It was an amazing experience and I honestly can't wait to do it again! 

Pictures will be posted Wednesday, and stay tuned to hear our story!

I can tell you know that this is something you will want to read. 

Here is a sneak preview of what we faced: 

It's GO Time.

Twas the night before Mudder weekend,

Not a thing is packed, not even the beer. 

The laundry is spinning, and the spandex with much care.

Beeping all around, now the dryer, next the alarm. 

..I'm ready. 

Set Go. 

Tomorrow's no track meet but it sure feels like I'm back at school, getting ready for PAC's. Not packed,Cant eat, cant sleep, and all that's on my mind is how I'm going to run- to survive. Just the thought of these 10+ miles hits me like the wall of the 400.

In the morning, we 300's (Haley, Bri and myself) leave for Allentown,PA. 


For the last blog before our travels being, I wanted to share with you a favorite quote of mine, along side of my favorite poster.


Throughout college, this quote and poster viewed above have hung on my wall (he quote besides the light switch) Next thing I knew, a silly tradition began, before each game or meet, as I left my room I'd touch the quote on my way out the door.
I have many many favorite quotes. Ones that are silly and ones with much attitude. But this one quote here just tops the charts.... "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat."   
--T. Roosevelt  to me, aka in todays modern society, Just Do It!  

Fresh Prince of Bel Air Style

  The outfit still remains a surprise, but I thought I'd drop a few lines to yinz...

  Besides the workouts and the spring weather, Im a dye heart fan of crazy neon spandex, sports bras and classy shoes! Modern styles though, sorry Will Smith.

To me, track warmups, sweats, under armor and Nike gear is like a box of Godiva chocolates-To Dye for. The countless times I've entered a sporting store or Dick's the one thing I have never even looked at was lifting/fitness gloves. 

With my gymnastics background, rough hands have always been normal to me and one who can lift tons of weight a the gym but cant deal with rips, to me is just weird. Rips and calluses, ok cool but splinters, No Thanks! After seriously thinking and rethinking everything for Tough Mudder, I've come to a decision and purchased Nike fitness multi-purpose gloves (of course, I chose the gloves with a blue stripe)  So, my bags are empty but I feel somewhat ready for the cold and my black kicks and gloves are anxiously waiting for the Mud!

We Leave in just TWO DAYS!

I Have Something To Say

I'm pretty sure the weather says it already but here is the training for today, SNOW+RUN.....NOW! 

The run wont be much because I'm tapering down for the weekend. 

Epic Previews

Check out some previews of the course in the makings last week. Everything is now complete and waiting for us to attack!

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=341

The Swing Rope Bridge. 

Tough Mudder has posted that the water is promised to be complete mud by time we reach it this weekend! 

    

 The Funky Monkey bars in the makes. 

End result will be greased monkey bars over lake water.

WE READY?!

Questions/Check List:

Packing-  NO CLUE
Transportation/Departure Time/Driver- NOT SURE
Alchy-IS A MUST
Shoes to wear- I'm TORN
Lifting/Biking Gloves-PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA
What to wear- NO CLUE
Hotel Reservations- HAVE, but where is it again??!!

First things first, Mother Nature you are giving us all a head ache already and Tough Mudder is just 5 days from now. No matter the crazy weather, we'll face what you throw at us, but what's a girl to pack?!!

Besides the excitement and worries, the most constant questions is what to wear! From many freezing cold rainy and or snowing soccer games and track meets, the first thing I want to pack is my Under Armour and track spandex hants! I love wearing Under Armous, it's amazing. But does one really want to be soaking, freezing and covered in mud, not to mention having to SWIM! in Under Armour? and or whatever other layers that will soak all that water up? (1/2 it's going to weigh me down, 2/2 I'm just not feeling the soaking material stick to me for running 12 miles!) The less clothes the better, but what does that mean?!
Maybe a home make costume? or a practical tank top and shorts, perhaps.

Bri has this great, off the top idea for a "uniform". It is so great I cannot revile that idea just incase it doesn't work out, plus I just want to leave yinz anxiously waiting to see pictures!