2013 Tough Mudder Mid-Atlantic - Peacemaker National Training Center

First off, I really don't like my Garmin 410 watch... this is the fifth or sixth time it's died on me. Thank goodness I bought my 910xt! Anyway this was my first ever Tough Mudder race event and though I have done some smaller obstacle races in the past, this by far was the longest one (it was somewhere around 10-11 miles I think) and the most fun. Oh and my camera died, so no cool photos (at least until they post the official snapshots). 

To start off the day Josh and I left home in the morning about five hours before our official start time, this was so we could find a place to park, gather our things (change of clothes, water, nutrition, IDs, etc), head to the bus, ride the 30 mins to the drop off point, walk the next .5 miles to the check-in, drop our bags, and then get ready to run. Needless to say we were really early and with the chilly 50 degree weather with the 10-15 knot winds, we decided to get a move an hour early than we were supposed to. Though it's not that it really mattered, they were doing releases every 20-30 mins. 

So we lined up, had a bit of a hype up session, stretched as best as we could and BOOM! we were off. The plan I told Josh was just to take it easy, no need to rush, and so forth... which we were both okay with since we had about 10 miles plus 21(?) obstacles to negotiate. So we did a lite "jog" pace and prepared for our first obstacle which was the kiss of mud, ...not too bad to start off. Then it was more running to the mud mile, which was just trenches of slippery mud mounds with muddy water in between that was semi deep and somewhat cold. Now I may miss a few obstacles or name them incorrectly because after awhile the cold and being wet just put my mind into a done like soldier state (some of you may know what I am talking about). The next obstacle was the bail bonds (pretty self explanatory, just go over it) then following that was the walk the plank, which was just jump off of a 15-20 ft high platform into cold muddy water (see the pattern here). That was part one of my mental freeze over, I literally felt my hot aired lungs crush like beer cans under the instant freezing cold of the water. 

After that was a long run to the back side of the course, in which a lot of this was just up and down hill climbs with obstacles at about one a mile. Fast forwarding a bit, we had the angled walls (about 8-9 feet high), a tall dirt mound to run up, and then arctic enema which was a 34 degree (absolutely freezing cold ice water) water obstacle to where you jump in and then have to go underwater to reach the other side! Let's just say I was completely numb after that one! Anyway some more running, trench warfare, hold your wood, another mud mile, various up and down hill climbs (all muddy), the boa constrictor, berlin walls, some more cold muddy water, a fire jump into cold muddy water, and some more up and down climbs. By this time were around mile eight(ish) and my mind and body feel great, even though I am cold and wet. Though for some reason I couldn't really feel the cold, I just knew it was cold... I think my nerve endings just finally gave up telling my brain anything any more since it was get wet, muddy, cold, and then run dry.... wash, rinse, repeat. 

The last few obstacles were the greased lightning, everest, funky-monkey, and electro-shock therapy. Josh and I decided to skip everest because it was an accident waiting to happen literally (only if it were sooner in the course) and electro-shock therapy because I was wearing electronics and Josh already suffered a few leg cramps. Funky-monkey was fun, but would have been a more fun if the stinking bars didn't roll!! I literally re-injured my left hand again trying to do that obstacle. So no bueno there!

At the end we received our head bands, t-shirt and protein bar and we made a mad dash to our bags to change out of our wet muddy clothes, by this time the temperature was slowly dropping and the wind was picking up. Right after that we walked the half mile back to the bus and made a beeline for home. 

Ending thoughts: I went into this run/race with just some water, a couple shotblocks, a good breakfast and my awesome Star Trek "Expendable"red t-shirt (and shorts/shoes of course) and really I didn't need anything more. It wasn't official exhausting like the Bakers Dozen, but then again I did't go nearly as far or as fast as I did there, also it was a completion race which means I could take as long as I wanted as long as I completed. In closing, I had a really good time and despite my hand being banged up once again, and I believe I came out of this run fairly unscathed (minus a few muscle aches and cuts). I would certainly do this again next year, but if I do it's going to be some place warmer or later in the year.... recommendation for the no-so-truly-hardcore: wait till the temp is above 60 degrees!

2013 Baker's Dozen Race Report - Leesburg, VA

Let me start by saying this was an amazing day for a race and it was awesome to see such talented racers on the course! There was a lot of firsts for me this day: First bike race ever, first time going longer than 22 miles,  first endurance race, and the first time (well maybe second-thirdish) really being on my MTB since I bought it a few weeks ago... okay technically fourth time, but the whole "rear wheel taco Patapsco fiasco" doesn't officially count because the bike only went a mile.

The 2013 Baker's Dozen course was a pretty fast 8.5 mile course with some (in my mind) decent climbs at certain spots with a few obstacles to "liven things up", just a side note there were only two obstacles that I couldn't work up the gull/speed to really get over, but for the most part I was successfully able to negotiate pretty much every obstacle on every lap I did. 

The race started promptly at 9 am and my goal for the Men's Solo was to take each lap at a steady pace, allow the better racers to pass when needed, and just keep going as much as I can for as long as I can. The end result was me being able to complete seven laps in about 7 hrs 35 mins (total moving time). I think for the whole time it was around 10-11ish hours, with the three pit stops included. Funny thing is I did four laps before the first pit and then one after each following lap and every time I stopped I'd say, "Okay, I'm done!" but then 15 minuets would go by and I'd want to get back on my bike and ride another lap... this was mainly because I was motivated by seeing the other AFC racers go at it again and again and again! Wicked kudos to you guys!! After my last lap, it was getting dark and even though I had a bike light I decided to hold off and call it a day, I felt that I would need more experience in that area before take up on MTB night riding. 

For the most part everyone was friendly on the course, I did make a few "ride friends" during some laps and the majority of the pro-racers were very courteous when they passed by me. I made sure to give everyone a wide berth when passing and most of the time I would just stop and cheer them on as they flew by (*bones-explode fist bump*). 

As for nutrition, I did a mix of using the three Cliff Shotblocks, one Cliff-shot gel, a water bottle with 2 scoops of Perpetuem, about 3-4 bottles of water, half a Chipotle steak burrito, a couple bananas, a can of soda, some Dunkin Doughnuts minis, and one water bottle a bit of Gatorade mix in it.  I know it's quite the mix of food! In hindsight I didn't know how to fully handle the Perpeteum, so next time I'll make sure to carry some extra water when using that stuff. The good news is I didn't have any cramps or dehydration issues!

For injuries, I went into the race with a shoddy (at best) left hand, thankfully I had the Ergon GP1-L grips to leverage my grip better with the bike. I also small taped my left ring and middle finger just in case I really wrenched it on a fall, etc. Speaking of falls I only had one major(ish) fall to where my bike slid out from underneath me on some rocks, thankfully my arse took the brunt of the impact and all I got out of it was a couple of scrapes and a hole in my shorts. By the end of the day all I could account for was a little sun on the arms/legs, some muscle soreness (expected), a couple scratches and scrapes, and now a even worse left hand. But hey I had fun! It just means I'll be going to see the OT here this week to fix my finger abduction/gripping issue. 

Finally my bike held up to the test on this course, even though I wasn't pushing it, I had both tires set to 35 psi which worked out well with the slightly tacky mud spots in the beginning. I didn't have any blowouts or mechanical issues and those Ergon grips were amazing and comfortable! Surprisingly enough I feel pretty great today, not really sore and definitely still stoked about the 2013 Baker's Dozen Race!!! 

Oh and last time I checked I was 45th place out of 66th (or something like that), not bad in my book.... 

Strava Results

Oh and on a side note, I need to remember to bring a handkerchief to put on my head to reduce the sweating next time, also make sure that my camera actually has a CF card in it... so sorry about that guys!