It's that time of year again.
On Tuesday, I got my bib from the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in the mail. It instantly put a smile on my face.
The Camp Pendleton Mud Run is one of my favorite races. It's become a tradition since I first ran it in 2008. It also inspired the name of this blog. When I first started blogging, back in spring 2008, I didn't intend on running marathons or becoming an all-out runner. I had signed up for this race, the Mud Run, and figured it would be cool to write about my experiences in training for the race and running it.
Like my running progressed and developed, so too did this blog. I guess the two go hand in hand. After my initial Mud Run, I caught the running bug bad and went on to run a 10K and a half marathon in the six months after.
And while I've run a lot of races and lot more challenging races (no matter how tough this race is, a marathon is more of a challenge after all), the Mud Run is very special to me.
This year is no different. I'm looking forward to running past the water trucks, trying to avoid getting soaked; trying to pick up the pace as I traverse the hills; scaling the mud pits and walls; wading my way across the river; inching my way through the tunnel and hoping I don't bleed... too much; dragging myself through the mud crawl and coming up with the inevitable mouthful of mud; and pushing myself at the end to finish strong.
Yes, this race is a challenge. It's a 10K course with obstacles. And while there are many other mud runs out there, this one seems like it's about as tough as you can get. Maybe the Tough Mudder is a challenge as well, but this course is unique. I mean, it's on an active marine corps base, and this mud run is scaled down from what marines used to run. I mean, there used to be barbed wire on the mud crawl. Yeah, you had no choice but to get down on your stomach and crawl.
Anyway, unlike the Fontana Days Half Marathon, I feel confident and great entering this race. I know what to expect. I know I have a good effort in me and I know that I will kick some major ass in this race once more.
This is a fun race and I will have a fun time there, I know it.
4 comments:
The San Bernadino mud run is as hard, if not harder. They use the same course to train police officers. The hill isn't as long in the middle, but it's steeper. And they have more mud. But they don't have a huge lake to wade through, which was pretty awesome.
But, SB was my first mud run, so it has a soft spot in my heart.
I did it for the second time this last weekend. As you know, I do lots of mud runs. This one is actually light on the obstacles compared to most. But I had a lot of fun doing it again. I think the fact that it is on a base makes it unique.
And I loved the fact that I hit the half way point and hardly noticed. I've come pretty far in the last year. We'll see how much I am running now that I don't have a big race in my future, but it felt really good this year.
This sounds like something I would LOVE! Something out of the ordinary! I named by blog after a race too! :)
I seriously want to do a mud run one of these days. I think it sounds like a blast. That one sounds pretty tough. I know you will have a great time!!
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