Warrior Dash 2013 (Kentucky) Recap

Wow this has been a busy summer so far!  Normally I am on top of posting race recaps the week after the race.  Not so much this time.

Two weekends ago, I doubled up and ran in two races in one day.  I might be a little crazy, but it was a blast!  The first was the Warrior Dash, the second was the Midsummer Night's Run.  Here is my recap of the Warrior Dash...

I have a fond love for the Warrior Dash.  This was the first race I ever signed up for and is the reason I started running.  I feel like it has been longer than a year and a few months since I started running, but it hasn't.  The Warrior Dash not only ignited my love for running, but also got me addicted to obstacle course racing!  Here is my recap from last year's race: Warrior Dash Recap

This year's race was a lot closer to home.  It was in Versailles, KY which was only about a 30 minute drive.  So much nicer than coordinating a weekend trip/hotel/drive, etc.  Going up to the event, it had been raining.  A. Lot.  I was a bit concerned when WD sent out an email warning about muddy terrain for parking, etc.  We don't have a 4x4 and the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck in a field somewhere.

To start with, the parking situation was a lot better than last year.  It was close to the venue (read: no buses and no waiting for a bus to take you to venue).  The parking cost was also down from $20 to $10 this year.  As soon as you stepped out of your car, you knew it was going to be muddy.  While the parking was in a long grass field, as soon as you got to the path leading to the "common area" and once inside the area, everything was mud.  It was clear to me that this was going to be the muddiest race I have been in to date.

I had a small cheering section come with me to the race.  Abby, the two kids, and my mom all came along to cheer me on.  They were going to get muddy too (just from walking)!  As soon as we got inside the venue, we found a table to park at for a bit.  I was able to get my gear on and ready and able to get my race packet and check my bag easily. Very well organized so far!

My heat started at 9AM.  There was an elite heat at 8:30, but I stuck with my 9 AM start time.  Once 8:40 rolled around, I noticed that there was a line already forming at the start line.  I decided to go ahead and line up.  I didn't want to get caught in a backup early in the race.

Before I get into the race details, here are some pre-race pics:

At the entry to the venue.  You can see how muddy the path is:

With the kiddos before the race:

Kids chilling in their stroller during the race:

Headed to the start line:

Once I was at the start line, it was time to get my head in the "zone".  I typically zone out and just try to focus and concentrate on the upcoming challenge.  I stretch and try to keep loose.  It was nice that they had a "DJ" at the start line that was talking to the crowd and playing music to get you pumped up.  Before I knew it, we were counting down to the starting flames!

While I don't remember every obstacle and the order of it, I do have the ability to look up videos of the course that people have uploaded!  

The first thing I noticed out of the starting gate was that the grass was wet and slippery.  It would be a challenge to balance proper speed and caution to stay on your feet.  Sounds like fun, right?  I started probably 25-30 people out of the lead.  The trail was narrow, but wide enough to pass after the first turn.  From looking at the map prior to the event, I knew that there was going to be about a mile of running before the first obstacle.  So I wanted to get as close to the front as possible.  After the first turn, I had worked my way up to maybe 6th or 7th out of the lead.  Then there was a pretty long stretch until the path took a turn.  I knew that was my opportunity and might be the only one I get, so off I went.  To give you an idea of how fast I was going, for the first half mile, I averaged a 6:30 mile.  Off road, in wet grass.  It was fun.  I was able to take the lead by the .75 mile point in the race.  I knew there was no going back now.  

The first obstacle (other than some trail/mud dodging) were sets of giant hay bales stacked on top of each other making giant climbing hay walls.  Three of them.  Talk about slowing down momentum!  I scurried up and down them as fast as I could.  I did look back at the top of the third one and noticed my competitors were getting to the top of the first as I was sliding down the third.  

Off I went to more trail running.  Actually, just think of it like this.  When I don't talk about an obstacle, assume we were running in a grass mud combo that made it pretty challenging to keep your footing.  Some points the grass was long and tripped you, other points you felt like you were ice skating in mud.  Most of the way was a combo of the two.  

The next obstacle was a series of walls to run up, hurdle, etc.  Not too challenging, but definitely slowed you down. The obstacle after that was quite challenging!  It was called the "teetering traverse".  Picture walking on two foot wide planks that slant at inclines and declines with a muddy pit awaiting your fall.  I started up the first plank a little too aggressively and almost bit it.  I recovered and slowed down significantly so I could keep my balance and make it across.  By the end of this obstacle, I had a pretty good lead built up.  I would estimate about a 30-45 second lead on 3-4 people and then others I couldn't even see.  I was very happy with that and wanted to maintain it.

That brings us to the next obstacle.  I am upset just thinking about it.  Yep, it killed my lead and cost me very valuable time.  The next obstacle were the "mud mounds".  This consists of three mud mounds.  The first is easy to run up, then there is about a five foot drop, climb up the next mound, drop, etc.  The problem came here.  I underestimated the mud and conditions.  I made it up the first mound fine.  Then the jump happened.  OK, made it.  Wait, mud is up to my knees.  Crap.  I was able to get my first leg out without much issue.  Then I began to pull my left leg out.  Uh Oh. My shoe.  My SHOE!  My shoe was still at the bottom of the mud!  No biggie, I'll just reach down and pull it out.  The mud had a good laugh at that one!  I couldn't even find it.  The mud was like a vacuum chamber!  I was able to dig back down and find it.  Full of mud.  Then I had to pry it loose.  I probably looked like a mad man digging out a hole in mud with my hands.  People were passing me left and right.  It took me probably 4 minutes to get free.  

I was ticked.  Well, that is an understatement.  I wasn't a happy camper.  I launched my shoe to the other side of the obstacle and finished the other two mounds with one shoe off.  I started running carrying the shoe but quickly found out that a) needed the shoe to protect my foot and for grip, and b) needed to use my hands to balance myself while running if I wanted to catch anybody.  I cleaned my shoe out as best as I could and then put it back on.  

It was time to run!  From that point forward, I honestly had no idea how I was doing in placement, my goal was to find the next target and pass them, then repeat.  

I don't remember where on the course, but there were definitely some challenging hill climbs that took the wind right out of you.  I know one was close to the end and there was another that just zapped me, but we all kept pushing.

The next obstacle was a very tall wall with some 2x4's as foot grips and ropes to pull yourself up.  Up and down, moving on to the next one.  Next came a trench crawl where there were long trenches dug and you had to crawl through them and under logs and barbed wire.  Next came a tall cargo net climb and descent.  That was fun!  Next was another wall similar to the first in this paragraph, but this one was slanted slightly to make it easier to climb.

The next obstacle wasn't one that I had ever encountered before.  Not sure what it was called, but it was a cargo net that you had to cross.  Rather than climbing up and over, you had to move across the net sideways.  It was a good, unexpected challenge.  Here is a picture of me after finishing that obstacle:

After that was a run through a creek type area that was not cut very well.  I think that helped me gain on some of my competition.  I just kept going full speed as they slowed down a bit to determine the best path.  As soon as we got to the clearing of the last segment of running I saw smoke.  That meant one thing.  The finish was close.  My energy was zapped and I was exhausted.  But seeing that smoke and hearing the loud music coming from the finish gave me that extra push to finish strong.  

The finish of the WD was the same as it was last year (and I think for all WD events).  There are two fire jumps and then a mud crawl under barbed wire to run to the finish.  

Here are some pics from the last part of the race:

Fire jumps:

Approaching mud crawl:

In mud crawl:

Still trying to pass others:

Finish line:

One of the best feelings in the world is when you are getting ready to finish a race and hear people cheering you on. While I was focused, I was able to pick out my mom's and Abby's voices cheering for me.  However, the best feeling came when I heard my little princess yell out "Go Daddy!!!"  That was enough to really push across the finish line!

This was by far the muddiest race I have run in to date.  It was a blast and I loved it.  The obstacles seemed much more challenging this year and the terrain just added to it.  While the hills weren't nearly as difficult, the muddy terrain and obstacles made sure all were challenged.

So, how did I do?

Before I tell the results, I have to show some more pics.  Here are a couple of random ones:

I think Adalyn thought some of the music was too loud:

After the race:

She didn't want a hug.  I was crushed! :-)

I almost forgot to share a couple of online videos of the course.  The first video is one that started at the same time as the heat I ran in (9AM).  The second one is a video from the 1PM heat just to show you how much abuse the course took!

OK, now time for the results.  I usually stick around to see how I do in races.  I was so upset about the shoe, we hung out for 15 minutes or so, cleaned up and left.  By the way, huge improvement on the cleaning stations this year. Couldn't ask for better and there were no waits.  It was basically a contraption with about 20 hoses hooked up for each person to use one.  I also usually have my GPS stats from my watch.  Little did I know that while I was digging in the mud searching for my shoe my watch got "paused".  I didn't happen to notice until about 0.4 miles had passed. So my GPS data wasn't even all that accurate!

OK, OK, here are the results:

In my age/sex group, I finished 7th of 697 and overall I finished 18th of 3,629.  I will take it!  While I wanted to finish better than that, I honestly thought I would be way lower with my shoe mishap.  Abby thinks I finished 2nd in my heat, but those results aren't given as an option on the site.  

Overall I thought the race was WAY better than last year.  Both the venue and organization as well as my performance.  In fact, I already registered for the 2014 race which will be at the same venue.  

I still have to recap my race from that night, so until next time blogosphere...