The Mud Run - Team Huge

For several years Jason and I have enjoyed participating in 5k races. Jason has also done 10k and even a sprint triathlon, so when his sister asked if we would be interested in doing an 8k mud run we were excited at the prospect. We knew 3 1/2 months in advance this would be a fun challenge. 5 miles with 30 obstacles and calisthenics stations along the way with one obstacle being a mud pit followed by a creek. So we've been "training" off and on for a while always knowing that although we didn't have quite enough time here or there to get in a work out, the race was still far enough away that we had a while to keep training. Then came the day that we realized the race was less than a week away. Oh the panic.

I was registered on a team with my sister-in-law Mollie and two of her friends but Jason's team had disintegrated in the months between finding out about the race and actually participating in it. So with only a few days to go he managed to convince his brother-in-law Chad that he could still do it and two guys from church, Tui and Jason, that it would be fun. Since no one on their team weighs under 220 pounds their name was "Team Huge".



Now although none of these guys are small they are actually pretty fit. They run, bike, play basketball, lift weights and other various activities. So with each knowing their own abilities they were all pretty confident they could make it through. Unfortunately there were a few setbacks. Jason Garrett had been really sick and was finally starting to feel better but after 2 1/2 miles was having such a hard time with his lungs that he had to drop out.



However the other three team members continued on valiantly without him. The second time around was when everyone had to go through the mud pit and creek. The fans (aka Jason's sisters and all the kids) were yelling that the only way to get through was to dive in like a slip and slide, so that's what they did.

Tui seemed to come through without any issues. However Jason ended up with mud in his contacts and Chad, well you see the pictures. Jason sunk about a foot into the mud crossing the creek, but Chad, oh how I wish someone had managed to get it on video. After much slipping and sliding he managed to haul himself up the creek bank and then only had to worry about the 20 extra pounds of mud he was carrying. Ok, so that's an exaggeration, but not by much.

After the mud pit they still had a few more calisthenics stations, but finally they made it victoriously to the finish line. They were a sight to behold and were received by cheers from all their fans.

After the race there was only one water hose for all the contestants to rinse with. After looking at the length of the waiting line Chad and Jason decided to take advantage of a nearby pond. (Tui had already left in order to get to his daughter's volleyball tournament, we did receive word he managed to get in a shower before he went.) So anyway, they headed for the pond where they dove right in. Jason came up laughing and yelling because a fish had swum up his shorts.

They came out of the pond a lot wetter but not much cleaner. However being dirty never stopped them from helping out and these two dads voluntarily emptied the overflowing trash cans which contained a surprising number of muddy shoes.

They did well and we are all proud of the big boys of "Team Huge"!