Kalamazoo Mud Run

Anna and I "got dirty for clean water" by doing the Kalamazoo Mud Run today.  It was Kalamazoo's first ever mud run put on by Kalamazoo Community Church.  The event was sold out (1200+ runners) and they raised enough money to dig a well for a village in Uganda.  It was not a super warm morning . . . not for June 2nd!  It was in the 50s and cloudy.  The sun did come out right before we started running though so that was nice!  

Still clean and feelin' good about getting dirty!

The course was a 2.5k loop with 9 obstacles.  We ran the loop and did all of the obstacles twice.  This was the first obstacle called "the little dipper".  I was worried about running with wet squishy shoes but honestly, I didn't even notice!!

Sliding into waist deep water.  This obstacle came after running through the woods and doing the 6 obstacles that spectators (aka my Mom our photographer) couldn't really see.  Anna's legs and hands were caked in mud because she got stuck in "the big nasty" - a mucky muddy mess that you had to run through.  If your shoes weren't tied tight enough the big nasty would suck them right off of your feet.  The trick was to move quickly so your feet didn't sink into the mud.  Anna got stuck and sunk up to her upper thighs.  It was so funny!!

Wading/running through the water in the 8th obstacle, "last gap"

Awesome!!

While I was busy playing in the mud, my kids were having some fun of their own!  They were busy washing their hands in their donut filling!!  Haha!

Crawling out from the pole pit.  You had to crawl in a muddy water pit under telephone poles.  This was the messiest and dirtiest obstacle b/c the water we crawled in was up to our chins.  I learned the hard way that it is important to keep your mouth closed while crawling!!  

Two thumbs up!  We're still having fun!  Almost done with the first lap.

Starting the second lap.  Anna didn't tell me she was doing a cool jump into the mud pit so I tried last minute to do something cool too.  Mine didn't look as good as hers.

The course was so hilly that the obstacles were actually a welcome relief and change in pace from constantly running up and down slippery, muddy hills!

Off we go into the woods to face our next obstacle - the vertical challenge, a huge hill!

After going down the slides a second time.  I was getting pretty exhausted by this point but we were still having a great time!

This is what Anna really thinks of the pole pit! ;)

Anna is definitely a faster runner than me but I finished most of the obstacles before her.

Heading off the to finish!

We made it!  We placed 4th and 5th in our age group, 40th and 41st overall . . . there were just over 300 runners in our "heat".

Great memories were made!  I wasn't even cold or miserable until after I tried to shower off in the outdoor showers.  Then I got cold and didn't get warm again until I was in my own shower at home!

So fun.  I'd definitely do it again if I have a chance!