My Thoughts On: The Camp Pendleton Mudrun

Camp Pendleton Mud Run: The Starting Line

My first thought upon finishing the Camp Pendleton Mudrun: Ohmigawd, I DID it!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Followed by nirvana.

It was extremely fun! I would highly recommend for people to do it!

And, the lowdown to those that are anxious and thinking, but I've never run a 10K...and it's through mud and obstacles and hills?!?!?!?! Are you CRAZY? Again, I repeat - it's a lot of fun! I was sooo anxious the week before the race. I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think anything except - what have I gotten myself into? Would I disappoint my team? What if I had to walk? Would I even survive it to the end? I had never run a race. EVER. Much less a 6.2 mile CRAZY race. I force fed myself carbs and gatorade and watched the minutes pass by until race day....completely freaked out!

But you know what? Many people were there just to have a good time! Now, you should train to be able to handle the 6.2 miles that comprise a 10K, but most people there were there to have fun. People walked portions of it...and it was no big deal. It was all in the spirit of doing the run and having a blast!!!! The marines just kept cheering you on!

In the spirit of fun - there were people in team T-shirts, many with funny slogans. There were girls wearing playboy bunny ears and appropriate attire. One girl was dressed all in white, with a veil, surrounded by male teammates...in full suits! I heard there were 2 marines who did it in full gear with 75 pound packs...in fact, they ran faster than we did!

Our team made it in 1 hour and 42 minutes. Not too bad. The earliest person came in at about 40 minutes (they must have had wings!) and the last at about 2 hours and 37 minutes. We didn't do at all bad, really.

So, what's it like? Well....here goes:

It starts off in a corral of lots and lots and lots of people (about 3000 people ran the race when I did). The gun goes off and you start to run! And, then you stop...because there's so many people, you have to walk for a few minutes until people spread out.

The first thing to hit you is fire hoses...and they feel refreshing! You don't even mind so much that you're now soaking wet and your shoes are kind of squishing with water.

Then you run through a patch of forest and a few muddy streams and some sand. You think - wow, this is kind of nice....

Until you start going uphill. That was really the hardest part of the whole thing. It goes on and on and on for what seems like a really long time. You think it might soon be over and it just keeps on going up. There is a small hay bale obstacle and, after a few more hills, a tire obstacle. Both are just all in good fun.

After eons, you finally start to descend the hill. Thank gawd! And, that's when you encounter the first mudpit and wall. It's definitely muddy. You'll get almost completely covered in mud. But, it's all in good fun! Even if the mud is kinda stinky. It IS a mudrun after all!

It's quickly followed by a rinse in the lake. This was actually kind of relaxing and enjoyable and very serene.

After this point, the marines start yelling that you're almost there! Only a mile left! Yeah. It seems like a little more than a mile.

Then there's another mudpit and wall. Tons of fun again! I fell on this one...but luckily didn't land face first....like other people. I do not envy that.

Then there's a tunnel you have to crawl through. Not too bad...you just have to watch your knees.

And, then it's the slippery hill. It sure lives up to it's name - it's definitely slippery!!!!!! And, muddy and wet. People were falling all over each other at this one. It was kind of funny, really.

Finally, it's the last stretch - the REAL last mile left...or less.

There's one last mudpit...where you crawl to the end under ropes. If you're not completely dirty before then...you will be after this mudpit. I made sure to smile for the photographers. Hopefully in a few days I'll have a nice picture of me covered in mud!

And, then it's a 100 yards to the end!

We were in a team and had to lock arms and that was it! The euphoria of finishing a daunting run set in and it was fantastic! Woo-hoo! I did it!

It was ALL worth it! Every minute!

And, when you get done, there's towels and showers and beer and food! It was a great race and a really good time!

There's another mudrun in October! Anybody care to join me?