Kalamazoo Mud Run 2014

Last year, I did my very first 5K & mudrun at the Kalamazoo Mud Run. I loved it, but really wished I would’ve been able to do it with other friends.

So this year I decided to encourage friends & coworkers to join me!

Lorna, Caitlyn & I all rode together so we arrived probably, slightly, to early. So we decided to snap a few photos.

I also made our aprons, since we couldn’t wear our ACTUAL green aprons! So then I attempted to take a photo… while it was on my being.

We stood, and danced, and enjoyed each others company. Nicole and her family then showed up!

Lots of people came, though I feel like it wasn’t as big as last year. Or as organized/fun.(as far as people there. Last year it seemed like we had more fun in the line and whatnot) BUT! I will say that we sure DID have fun in line. It was basically a dance part until we got to run .

Then we got to run! A huge shoutout to Nicole’s husband, Stephen, for capturing the images! I know the smart phones can be tricky with how their cameras are placed, soooooo pardon some semi-finger shots. 🙂 But it was great knowing someone was taking pictures!

And we totally waved every time every time we saw our personal cheer-section!

The first obstacle was just a mud/water pit! Which was a lot deeper than we all anticipated.

 

This is the point where our spectators couldn’t easily see us to snap images. It included a wall like this:

More muddy/muck pits, logs to climb over, fences, tires, hills…. It felt like forever! But we all cheered each other on during the whole thing, And THAT was really the best part.

Soon we got to go down some water slides….into a huge muddy pit..and then cross over these barrels…. Those barrels I think caused my MBI.(Minor But Injury…. yeah, we totally came up with that)

I spotted our fans and, of course, waved like I was a crazy person.

THEN we had to crawl through these tires…. it was brutal.

I’m not sure WHAT is happening in the second image, but it looks hilarious. No, Caitlyn did not fall onto her face.

But we totally finished that obstacle!

We came around the corner and LOOK! Our fans where there!!! WHoo-hoo! The end was coming.

The little hands in the photos were Nicole’s daughters! They did such a good job cheering us on!

The second to last obstacle was this rope wall thing….we all thought it was INTENSE!

But it was much easier than we had originally thought.

Then it as the last obstacle! A muddy pit under some logs!Ahhhh! YAY MUD! But we did take our time getting to it…..preparing ourselves. (Okay, so I was super excited to get super muddy, so I kinda quickened my pace…)

THEN! It was onto the FINISH LINE!!!

AND WE MADE IT!!!! So Nicole WAS cheering, arms, flailing, so happy, but we all forgot to hold hands across the finish line.

It was Nicole’s first ever 5k and mud run! And she totally rocked it and made it through it all! You rock, chick! So do the other girls… for being such awesome and encouraging teammates!

All in all, it was a GREAT run, and a fabulous morning afternoon. Good friends, funny conversations, and exercise for a good cause! We got dirty for clean water, and it was awesome!

 

Stay Fabulous!

-A