How did it go? Is there anywhere with a recap with times, stories, etc? I definitely want to do a muddy buddy some day - I hope the experience was as good as you had hoped it would be.
I'll give it a shot.
After lots of phone calls with Paul and the other muddy buddys I setup a time to pick up Paul at his resort. I had to make a run to Wal-Mart to pick up a bike since we didn't have access to one. So I took off in the mini-van and found a bike, loaded it up and tried to get some sleep before my alarm went off at 4:40.
Up and ready quickly and I headed off to Coronado to pick up Paul. Its a strange feeling meeting someone you already know for the first time. It is even stranger when its 5:15 in the morning!
Off we go to WWoS in the mini-van. Paul brought us helmets with cool mickeys on the front. I think they were bullet proof.
After missing my turn because we were talking (and it was 5:20 am) we took the long route to WWoS.
The place was already buzzing with people and the crowds were very large. The diversity of folks in the race was amazing. Some were there to win and others (us) were there for fun. Some were in amazing shape...others...well they were in "a" shape. Lots of people were in costumes, they have a costume contest as part of the race.
So we checked in, got our tags and race chips, got the bike out and met up with the other DIS'ers. We hung out in the parking lot until it was about 6:30 and time to get lined up.
Paul and I were in the team BEAST division (total of 400lb combined weight), the other teams were in wave 4 and 5 I think?? Waves were divided by combined age.
Bikes were set to take off first followed by the runners a few minutes behind. So we split up and I am up front on the bike ready to start. Honestly, my heart was beating out of my chest. This is/was the first race of any kind that I have ever done. They play the national anthem and get ready to go. The gun goes off and the bikes slowly get moving.
I cross the start line and get rolling. The first leg wasn't too bad, I was able to keep up with the front of the pack for the most part and was about the 5th or 6th bike to the first obstacle. From what I could tell based on time, each leg was about 1.5 or 1.75 miles long.
So I drop the bike in the holding area and hit the wall. This obstacle is a short wall with rock climbing pegs and I was up and over that fairly quickly. Time to hit the ground running (my least favorite activity). I check the watch and start jogging. I'm not a fast runner so lots of people are going around me, but I am passing my share of people also. My goal in this race was no walking and I was able to do that. Since I had no idea how far I was going to be running I really set a slow pace so I didn't burn out.
About half way into the run Paul passes me on the bike and gives some words of encouragement. (I think he said hurry up slow poke
)
We run around the ball fields and some flat open areas. Next obstacle is a inflatable slide, so I climb up and slide down. For some reason there is a small puddle at the bottom and of course I land dead into it. Now I"m wet from the waist down. Ohh well, now I feel like I'm racing!!
I find the bike quickly and hop on. Grab a cup of water and take off on the bike. This leg we are into some woods and some small hills and the terrain is a bit more challenging than the first bike leg. It is much slower on the bike this leg and more shifting gears up and down to keep moving. I find myself going at a more leisurely pace so I can stay fresh for the last run leg. I pass Paul about half way into the leg or so and say "ugh" or something to that effect. Next obstacle coming up, drop the bike and climb over the balance beams.
Off and running on my last run leg (I hate running). This one is the first struggle for me. I keep moving forward and although I'm going slow I'm still "running/jogging". We are running into the woods and along the highway areas. Nothing special here to speak of, but I was zoned out so I don't remember much of it. Next obstacle coming up after what felt like a mini-marathon leg
A belly crawl under a rope net, but on carpet. A little practice for the upcoming mud I think.
Last leg after I grab the bike and a drink. This bike section might have been easier and quicker to run! We are into the woods and around corners and then up along the highway on a nasty side hill slope. After the hill we are into some woods again. About 20 feet into it there is a long run of sand. I hit it going fast and attempt to shift...crap, wrong direction, I shift up instead of down and now I have to walk the bike out. Get back on the bike and peddle around and thru the sand. Some sidewalk, yea! umm...wait, stairs? I have to climb the stairs with the bike, about 3 flights of stairs carrying the bike. The good news is that the rest is all down hill from here, literally. I go flying down the hill and drop to bike and jog to the mud pit. Paul is there waiting, he says for only a minute or so, but I think he was being nice
There was some discussion before the race about if we were going to wait at the mud pit for the entire group. That was quickly out of the pictures as I approached. The two of us hit the mud and were in and out so fast I barely remember it. We crossed the finish line together and had a very successful race! We finished 11th in our division, time of 52 mins, and 200something overall in a race of 1750 teams. Not bad for a couple of old fat guys!
I'm already looking forward to it next year and might try to run one in chicago or detroit.
