doin' it in the mud...

By the start line - (we were cleaner than this when we actually started)

doin' what you ask? Running, jumping, crawling, swimming, climbing...all in the mud...for 6.2 miles. Ricky and I ran the 10K annual world famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run. We climbed 571 feet in less than 2 miles (and what goes up, must go down...and the down part was in less than 1 mile...ouch). The views were beautiful from the top, but lets be honest, I wasn't looking at the views...I was watching for the big rocks that kept jumping up, grabbing my leg, and trying to drag me down. It really had nothing to do with my coordination... :)

(Map of the race)

The day really couldn't have been better. It was overcast and slightly chilly. In the first mile of the race, they had pressurized water trucks with one goal...soak the civilians. We were under fire for a full half mile. I think the marines really enjoyed that part!

(by the final mud pit)

It was a blast. We climbed 5' walls with mud pits on either side, crawled through muddy pipes, swam in the most disgusting lake I've ever seen, and practically slithered through the final mud pit (we had to go under flags, where only your head was over the mud-see above picture). Ricky and I finished the race in 1.5 hours. I came in 42 out of 65. That was really pretty slow, but for not having ever run more than 2 miles (in my life) I think it's pretty good. At least I finished right?

(the group from our ward that ran the race...it was way fun)

Well, if any of you are going to be in So Cal next year around this time, Ricky and I would love to have you join us in our new So Cal annual tradition. One condition though: you can't be afraid to get dirty!