So last Saturday my sister and I decided we would go for a little jog… in the mud! We ran in The Dirty Girl Mud Run in Chesapeake, VA - and it was amazing. (Please read amazing to mean: dirty, gross, and exhausting - yet fun, supportive, and powerful!) I saw all types of women out there running for their lives from the mud monster… young, old, super athletic and the opposite, and a ton of cancer survivors. I was overwhelmed by the supportiveness from all the women on the course.
I personally am not a runner. At all. But I’m especially not a runner when my shoes are so caked with so much mud that you practically mud-skate the entire course. I was a rockstar though when it came time for the obstacles. Now I have complete respect for the challenges on Survivor.
So how about a little recap of our day?
We started out clean, and gingerly stepping around the vendor area trying to avoid mud puddles. How innocent we were…
Photo cred goes to my mom who decided to “follow us” as if we were lost ducklings for the beginning part of the course. Apparently I run like a fool who is being chased by a yeti, while Leslie fit pumps her way through the course, Jersey Shore style.
We thought we were dirty at this point. (Just an FYI - I am wearing shorts, despite the fact that it looks like I have leggings on…)
This ditch was the last mud pit of the course. Quite frankly, I think the ditches were added bonuses for us, due to the location (a tree farm) and the tornado producing storms that rolled through the night before. We were weaving trees, jumping through ditches, dodging branches - all in addition to the hot pink Dirty Girl course obstacles.
The picture below is one of my favorite photos. My sister is power housing it out of this ditch with all her strength, not even using the ropes they had available. Me on the other hand, I’m going all wedding planner on the situation. A. I’m making sure that the girl towards the grassy area is first okay, but then that she isn’t cheating. B. I’m looking for a more ideal ditch-wall-climbing-option for myself.
This was the toughest pit to get out of because by this point everyone was so dirty we were slipping and sliding everywhere. I couldn’t get any traction to get out of the pit. If I took Leslie’s hand, she would’ve come flying back into the pit with me. And luckily, when I asked my mom to send me the pictures, she forgot to send the video of my numerous escape attempts from this hole.
Now, I’m not a beer drinker - especially now that I have found out this week that I cannot have gluten. But let me just tell you friends, hands down, this was the most refreshing yuengling I have ever had in my entire life. It was so refreshing I felt like it was a mirage in the middle of a crowded desert. I cannot recall ever tasting anything so delicious in my life. And really, I assure you, I am not a beer drinker.
Let’s not forget to mention the super hot guys handing the drinks out at the end… just sayin.
“But first, let me take a selfie.”
In the end, my sister would let me ride in her car, but my folks wouldn’t let me take a shower at their place until I hosed off outside. Like our dogs.
Needless to say - if this event ever comes to your town - do it. Even if you are scared that you are not strong enough. Or terrified because you are more of a walker than a runner. I think you will be surprised by how much you really can do. Or just do it for the delicious, thirst quenching, magic beer at the end.
Almost a week later, after several showers, I am still finding dirt in my hair.
It’s the gift that just keeps on giving.