Dashing Warriors

Be warned that this is a super-post. We've been ultra-busy this summer, mostly weddings and graduations and baby events, but sometimes we like to take the time to relax and run through the mud. This is one of those times.

Last weekend, the Warrior Dash was held at Afton Alps near Hastings. Per the website, caps intended, the Warrior Dash is "A MUD-CRAWLING, FIRE-LEAPING EXTREME RUN FROM HELL. THIS FIERCE RUNNING SERIES IS HELD ON THE MOST CHALLENGING AND RUGGED TERRAIN ACROSS THE GLOBE. WARRIORS CONQUER EXTREME OBSTACLES, PUSH THEIR LIMITS AND CELEBRATE WITH KICK-ASS MUSIC, BEER AND WARRIOR HELMETS." 

That's a lot of promise for an early Sunday morning.

As is the new normal, Adam packed some PortaShots (I still prefer "Go Shots") to get the crowd moving. And, once again, they are a hit.

Little Tessa showing her support for the team.

I imagine this will be the cleanest the group will be for quite some time.

And they're off! 

Adam was the easiest to spot since the contrast between black (shorts) and white (chest) was so easily highlighted in a crowd.

College/Frisbee friend Peter/Egon finished in record time, coming in just behind a band of hot pink ladies from the previous heat and with barely any mud above the shoulders. Impressive.

Rob finished not too far behind Peter, but was so fast that the camera missed him. Also, the camera was distracted by Adam's old man habits. If you look closely, Adam is the one flailing down the water slide.

Here, Adam deftly leaps over the flames and mentally prepares for the mud pit.

I was later informed that some girl ahead of him kicked mud into his eyes, but - honestly - that sounds like an excuse for poor performance.

Actually, Adam did very well by all important measures. That is, he beat Wade (#115) and Jake (#118), coming in at 33:17.85. Good enough to finish with a rank of 97 out of 884 in his division (Men 30-34) for the Sunday races. Rob finished #28 (Good job, Rob!) and Peter was #25 in his (younger, faster) age group.

And anyway, check out the fellow competitors behind him. It can't be that hard.

Wade immediately launched himself into the mud pit, which was a nice contrast to the leisurely entry stroll that Jake decided upon.

I suppose bananas were about the cleanest food you could serve to the racers, but it seemed a bit like a recipe for disaster what with all those peels lying about.

Congrats, team!

Oh yeah, there was also free beer. And giant turkey legs for a small, well-deserved fee.

The final racer was Andrew/Bussey, who wasted no time in showing up Wade's entry into the mud pit.

Again, those bananas. Dangerous.

It was best for all involved that we left our shoes behind. They are going to a better place now.

I hope Tessa remembers this remarkable day. If not, I will send her incriminating photos of her father and his gang when she is much older. 

Warriors!