The much-anticipated Warrior Dash took place this weekend, starting on Friday night, when I drove down to Joliet to meet a bunch of awesome folks from the Beginner’s Forum on Runner’s World for dinner. Having never really met anyone online before, it was weird but highly satisfying to meet these people who I’ve “known” for the past year or so, who I’ve joked with and swapped running stories with, who know my running life like no one else.
L to R: Mike, Cass, and Cass's friends
Me, Meghan, Cory, and Katie
The next morning, my alarm went off in my ear at 5:15 AM. Ouch. In my early-morning haziness, I forgot to attach my chip to my shoe, so now I’ll never know how long it took me, officially to get through those obstacles. I lined up with Wave 5, but quickly found out that there were a lot of non-runners there. It was only a 6K course (2 3K laps), but people were walking 400 meters in. The first loop was obstacle-free, to tire you out before pitting you against danger.
The second loop started with a series of giant mounds – not hills really, but large speedbumps to scramble up. Next came the plastic barrels, a junkyard of old cars, giant spools to jump over, and two walls – one after another, the second taller than the previous – to push yourself over. Lines were building around some of the obstacles, particularly the walls, where several people were having trouble getting over them and had to be pushed.
The construction pipes that came next were more suited to my height. After that, the course led into the woods – steep, muddy, and extremely slippery. We crossed a narrow plank across a deep ravine (I thought I was going to slip and die here), scaled the steep uphills back into the clearing, and leapt into the muddy swamp. The website had recommended duct-taping your shoes to your feet, which I blew off. The minute I stepped into the swamp, I immediately regretted not heeding that advice. I had to slow down and struggled just to keep the muck from sucking my shoes off, and people were losing their shoes left and right.
When I emerged from the swamp and hit the concrete, my feet felt 15 pounds heavier. We ran through a simulated “abandoned city” and over the fire – which was actually disappointingly small and faded from everyone jumping over it. The very last obstacle was the hyped “Muddy Mayhem” and it didn’t disappoint. There was barbed wire stretched out low across the mud pit, forcing you down deep. Unlike the swamp, you couldn’t just wade across – the wired made you get down on your hands and knees and drag your whole body through the mud. Awesome!
Afterwards, my fellow forumites and I hung out at the post-race party and yes, I took advantage of the axe-throwing. Despite my lack of coordination and general physical clumsiness, I actually got one into the target! Booyah! All in all, it was a truly awesome time and I will definitely be back next year. Maybe even in costume…
Warrior Roast
Muddy Mayhem
Where I Bid Adieu to My Retired Brooks
Everyone Clear Out!
The Warrior Gang
