The day started out with our journey to Englishtown. We arrived and our heat started at 8:15 am. I think at this point it was about 45 degrees out. It was a fun start running behind a monster truck. We headed out and ran about 1 mile on the racetrack and then came to the Turd's nest which is basically a structure with a suspended rope netting to climb across. Easy enough obstacle, then we ran to the Chernobyl Jacuzzi. This was by far the most awful of all the obstacles. THis was a 17 foot dumpster filled with colored water that was about as cold as the water could be without being frozen. I jumped in, immediately took my breath away and it instilled a panic in me. Then as if it wasn't bad enough being chest deep in this water and unable to catch your breath, we then got to go from one end to the other of this dumpster by going under the water. I was so happy to be on the other side and out of this dumpster. After this, running to the next obstacle which was called "just the tip" Where we had to slide along a rope upside down sloth style, with more water under us. I made it about 3/4 of the way before falling in the what seemed like warm water (even though it was only about 40 degrees). Another trip across the turd's nest and a run to a 50 yard swim across a cold lake to a 15 foot rope climb. The best part of this was that you had to hold the rope down for people to climb up. I was probably at the one end of this lake for about 5 minutes holding the rope until I had to get out of the water, because my feet were completely numb. We then got about 30 seconds out of the water and a 15 foot plunge back into the water, which was one of the most awesome experiences of the whole competition. Then another trip back across the lake. A short jog to the Berlin walls. These are 8 foot walls to get over. They have a 1.5 inch wide step to help you get up and over. Another highlight of the course was a lady who came up behind us, got a running start, jumped, pushed off on the step and ran face first into the wall. We then gave her a hand and pushed her up and over. And then up and over a 50 foot hill of hay and then through a hay wall with a couple holes.
Finally off the racetrack and onto the motocross part of the course. We started with a mud mile, which was about 200 yards of knee to hip deep water and mud to trudge across. More cold and water. Then to run on the motocross track with moguls, sprinklers, mud, hills, etc. The best part of this was a 30 foot hill that had sprinklers on the other side and sliding down the other side. Grand total about 4-5 miles of running on this track broken up by other obstacles. A nice finish to this part was the "Kiss of Mud" which required us to crawl under barbed wire in the mud and water. Then to the mystery obstacle, which was a giant A frame with rope netting up and down both sides. The only upsetting part of this was that we missed the cliff hanger because you could do the mystery obstacle or the cliff hanger.
Back off the motocross track and over another turd's nest, then for some more hay and more, higher (10') Berlin walls. Done with this, we were off to what I consider one of the hardest obstacles of the whole course, Everest. This is a 1/4 pipe that you have to get a running start, run up and pull yourself up. The key, speed and upper body strength. Most people did not get this on the first try. After this, then off to some hurdles. A little bit of a run, up onto the actual race track and then to the nice tire field they use for football players. Then we get to finish off the racetrack by carrying a car tire for a couple hundred feet. Then a short run to the fire walk. It was a 100 foot muddy water walk through with burning hay on either side. The smoke was hard to breathe through, but not impossible. Then off to "The Trenches", which was an underground tunnel to crawl through that is S-shaped with water and mud. Then a stint across a 3" wide balance beam.
Then back onto the motocross track with hills, sprinklers, moguls etc for a couple miles. Then the over/under logs. Which doesn't seem bad, but this really beat my knees up. Then out and more running. Finally at the end of the dirt trails, we had the "Devil's Beard," which is a rope netting that is on the ground that you had to crawl under. This was a nice extra coat of mud in your hair.
Off into the woods, with a rope netting to climb up and over, but again needed the help of some friends to hold the ropes down. Then into the log bog, jumping over logs in the path. More trail running, then a "creek crusade." Similar to the mud mile, but not quite as much mud. Then a nice trench that is about 6 foot deep and 10 feet across. Climbing down and jumping back up the other side is fun after you are getting to the tired point. Leaving the woods brings you to a pretty difficult obstacle, "The Funky Monkey." This is monkey bars that are angled up and then go down the other side. I would have just skipped this one, because I knew there was no way I would be able to do this, but there was no way to go around, so I attempted it and fell off the 3rd rung into water that was only about 1 foot deep. This seems like a design that is sure to get people hurt. After the other side, a run across the lake and then though the lake under 3 rows of barrels. After the third set of barrels, I opened my eyes and everything was blurry. I thought my contacts had fallen out in the water. I just kept my eyes closed until the other side and upon blinking a couple times my vision returned. Apparently just water in my eyes.
Leaving the woods and going back across the turd's nest, a jump over the walls of the racetrack and around. Now to the Electroshock therapy. A wooden frame with wires hanging down, which apparently only 60% are live, the total voltage is 10,000 volts. To be extra nice, the people put mud and hay below the wires, so you couldn't just sprint through. Only electrocuted once and a run across the finish line to get my TM headband and a Dos Equis.
Back off the motocross track and over another turd's nest, then for some more hay and more, higher (10') Berlin walls. Done with this, we were off to what I consider one of the hardest obstacles of the whole course, Everest. This is a 1/4 pipe that you have to get a running start, run up and pull yourself up. The key, speed and upper body strength. Most people did not get this on the first try. After this, then off to some hurdles. A little bit of a run, up onto the actual race track and then to the nice tire field they use for football players. Then we get to finish off the racetrack by carrying a car tire for a couple hundred feet. Then a short run to the fire walk. It was a 100 foot muddy water walk through with burning hay on either side. The smoke was hard to breathe through, but not impossible. Then off to "The Trenches", which was an underground tunnel to crawl through that is S-shaped with water and mud. Then a stint across a 3" wide balance beam.
Then back onto the motocross track with hills, sprinklers, moguls etc for a couple miles. Then the over/under logs. Which doesn't seem bad, but this really beat my knees up. Then out and more running. Finally at the end of the dirt trails, we had the "Devil's Beard," which is a rope netting that is on the ground that you had to crawl under. This was a nice extra coat of mud in your hair.
Off into the woods, with a rope netting to climb up and over, but again needed the help of some friends to hold the ropes down. Then into the log bog, jumping over logs in the path. More trail running, then a "creek crusade." Similar to the mud mile, but not quite as much mud. Then a nice trench that is about 6 foot deep and 10 feet across. Climbing down and jumping back up the other side is fun after you are getting to the tired point. Leaving the woods brings you to a pretty difficult obstacle, "The Funky Monkey." This is monkey bars that are angled up and then go down the other side. I would have just skipped this one, because I knew there was no way I would be able to do this, but there was no way to go around, so I attempted it and fell off the 3rd rung into water that was only about 1 foot deep. This seems like a design that is sure to get people hurt. After the other side, a run across the lake and then though the lake under 3 rows of barrels. After the third set of barrels, I opened my eyes and everything was blurry. I thought my contacts had fallen out in the water. I just kept my eyes closed until the other side and upon blinking a couple times my vision returned. Apparently just water in my eyes.
Leaving the woods and going back across the turd's nest, a jump over the walls of the racetrack and around. Now to the Electroshock therapy. A wooden frame with wires hanging down, which apparently only 60% are live, the total voltage is 10,000 volts. To be extra nice, the people put mud and hay below the wires, so you couldn't just sprint through. Only electrocuted once and a run across the finish line to get my TM headband and a Dos Equis.
Had a great time, Looking forward to the next one in April in PA. Between then and now, will definitely be working on upper body, as I need some work there. Also, will be rockin' the Vibram Five Fingers again, because they were a good choice for this competition.
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