More Mud

As usual I ran in the Mud Run again this year. Every year I have been trying to take 5 minutes off my time. I managed to do it again this year.

I had a bit of a strategy going in.

1. Start towards the front. Sounds obvious but it's easier said then done. This year I was pretty close the the front. It only took me about 20 seconds from the time the race started to the point where I actually cross the start line. Last year it took like 2 minutes.

2. Run the entire course except the steep hills. I realized I was burning too much energy trying to run up the steep hills when I can walk up them just about as fast.

3. Get rid of the camelback. This year I brought a 1/2 liter bottle of water and supplemented with the water stops on the course. The camelback was nice but the extra weight didn't help.

4. Less absorbant clothes. The biggest switch was from shorts to a swimsuit. This helped a lot.

Everything worked out. My bib number this year was 3523. I came in at 1:25:44. Last year I ran it in 1:29:50. Not exactly 5 minutes but pretty close. That's 40 seconds per mile faster then last year. Go run a mile and then see if you can run it again 40 seconds faster. Then do that 6 times in a row. Not too bad for someone who doesn't run often. The strategy really paid off because I sure didn't train as much as last year. Here are some pics.

Here I am coming over the last wall.

Through the last wall pit.

Time for the pit at the end.

I just had to include a picture of these guys. I have no idea who they are but they ran in these outfits. It was pretty funny to be running along and then all of the sudden seeing all these superheros with their capes flapping in the wind running right next to you.