Mud Run

I did a mud run a couple of years ago and loved it. Several months ago I signed up for same run again. This time I had two friends sign up with me.  In December I broke my ankle in three places and I had a plate and nine screws installed. I wasn’t sure if I would recover in time.

I made a fairly swift transition back to walking. Of course that was the only thing I was focused on during that time. The transition from walking to running has been slower. I slowly jogged a quarter-mile on the treadmill last week, twice. Granted I have returned to my daily yoga practice and weekly dance lessons as well all my other life duties. I decided not to do the race because I knew I would be unable to run it especially on the uneven ground. Beside it was only two weeks away from our makeup cruise and I wasn’t going to be the reason my husband missed another well-deserved vacation.

My derby team was signed up to volunteer for six-hour shifts at the event. I signed up for the early morning shift along with my friend Stefanie. As this was during our race time we made our decision not to run. I woke up at four thirty dressed in comfortable jean shorts and a tank top. I drove the almost hour drive to the middle of nowhere and meet up with my group around six thirty. We started the morning out at the t-shirt tent. We were then moved to the Beer tent as they needed people over 21 there and we fit the bill.

Stef and I went ahead and picked up our packets because they had a free beer and t-shirt coupon. Neither one of us being beer lovers passed those on to other team members. Someone asked if we were going to run; earlier we had heard they allowed people to run at a different time if needed. After getting there and being around all the runners and the fun atmosphere Stefanie said she wanted to do it. I felt the desire too; I mean the atmosphere is set to do just that, inspire you to run. She said she had planned on walking it. Walking I thought to myself I could walk but there are all those obstacles that I might not be able to do and I would need to verify the different time thing.

I said let’s go find out if there are any obstacles you can’t go around and if you can go at different time if you are volunteering. We found one of the event employees and ask her our questions. She told us we could go around all the obstacles and run after our shift. We decided we were going to do just that.

We went back to our station at the beer tent. However, it was clear that they had too many volunteers at this station and so they moved five of us derby girls to the food tent to be cashiers. We stayed busy all morning and at 1:00pm our replacements arrived.

Now was the time to decide. In my head I was running through the reasons not to do it. I am not really dressed for it, I thought. Enough so that it is doable was my response. I have been up on my feet all day and my ankle is a little tired as are the rest of my legs. They are not unbearable, I replied. I might re-injure myself. I probably won’t because I will be walking and can go around any obstacles I can’t do, I said. Well I was out of excuses so we headed to the car to drop off our stuff off and get ready to go. Stefanie made a quick call to check on the wee ones which could be a possible out but no all were well.

We headed to the started line and when the start sounded the runners took off. We followed behind them. I closely watched the ground to ensure I didn’t have a misstep. We were at the first obstacle before we knew it and then the second. The second required you to get a running start and jump on top. We watched several people do it unsure if we could manage it. Then two of the people who made it to the top offered us a hand. I thought, I can jog a few step jump up on my good ankle and grab their hands. I did just that and we were up and over our second obstacle. Several more obstacles presented themselves and slowly and steady we made our way over, under, and through each one. There were two obstacles midway we didn’t complete as I felt they were too risky with my ankle. The steep slope I crab walked down sliding on my butt some of the time. The jean shorts were very helpful there. We began to hear the music and could see the stage which was near the end. We approached the second to last obstacle the fire pit; in which they had just stoked the fire. The volunteers at this area where giving instructions and you can do it cheers.

It would require a running start and jumping. My head was telling me to go around but I was caught up in the moment. I thought I could plan it to land on my good ankle. My friend Stef was dubious about my success and asked again if I wanted to go around. I was going for it my stubborn streak showing. I took my jogging start and leaped over the fire pit. Unfortunately, in the moment I lost focus and all I could think was that I needed to get over the fire. My muscles took over and reverted to their memory from high school hurdles which I always did with my left leg back and my right leg straight. I made it over the hurdles and landed with a jolt on my right leg and ankle. I felt a pop as my ankle took the blow and felt pain coursing through my ankle. I stood there letting the pain subside. I walked a few steps a limp now in my step cursing my stubbornness. Thinking to myself I was going to need to go around the last obstacle. I gave my ankle a minute to rest and the pain subside and it went back to my normal tired soreness. There was one obstacle left and we were done. We had accomplished more than I had expected. Standing there covered in mud with a renewed determination I tackled the last obstacle. Covered in mud head to toe we received our finisher’s medals. We took a quick picture to remember the occasion, before rinsing off. I iced my ankle and stayed off it as much as possible all evening.

It is often difficult to know where my limit it. Deciding how much of what I feeling is mental, stemming from my fear of re-injury. I often find myself unsure about trying something only later to do it and wonder why I was afraid. At the same time I don’t want to ever do anything to re-injure myself and often the line between overcoming fear and re-injure is unclear.

I am glad I did the race as it is always a very empowering experience but I will be giving my body and ankle ample rest over the next two weeks to ensure we get to go on our vacation.