Hog Wild Mud Run 2

Hog Wild Mud Run 2: July 21, 2012

I got a wild hair and decided I’d wear my old suit to the mud run.  It worked out well. I met so many people, got an incredible number of positive comments while running and after. There was camaraderie and comedy. It was great.  

I think taking the briefcase was a special additional prop. And yes, I carried it the whole way, and for the appropriate obstacles, I carried it through.  The tall ladders and the like, where I might drop it on someone’s head, I just walked the briefcase around. 

Before my wave started, there was a magical moment when a herd of steer came stampeding onto the course. These were big cows with foot and a half long horns. OK, I’m a city boy. I see a cow with horns, I think “BULL”. I was looking for the fence thinking, “ok, Im in leather shoes and carrying a briefcase. These guys might beat me to the fence, whats my plan B?” Plan B: Plant my briefcase on the bull’s horns to keep it from impaling me. This thought amused me, I could see a bull running around with a briefcase hanging from its horn.  As amusing as this was, I was convinced someone was going to get hurt. I was wrong. Cows, apparently, are docile. Cool. Good to know. 

Running in leather shoes sucks. I got blisters on my heels, and no purchase on the slippery parts of the trail. I think I ran perhaps half way. Then the heat and the weight of my suit got to me and I started walking.  I ran into a cute couple I wish I got their facebook: Darrel and “T” (I can’t remember the rest of her name). They encouraged me and helped me over a couple obstacles. I was trying to stay ahead of them, and I think I did. I don’t think they intended to run. 

The sandbag didn’t fit in my briefcase, to my disgust. :-)

Swimming in a suit… wow, that was a challenge. The guy on shore said “oh, theres only an area in the middle that’s deep”.  Hello! The whole pond was too deep to stand.  So I swam the 60 yards or so, it wasn’t far if you weren’t wearing leather shoes and a suit pushing a briefcase in front of you lol.  The tube leading into the pond was a riot, I flew!

I hung around the event after my run. I met so many people, it was a riot. I think two dozen people wanted to take my picture or be in a picture with me.  Perhaps it wasn’t just my dirty suit. When I told people that I couldn’t wear the suit anymore because I had lost 80 pounds, they seemed to be inspired by that. The Tampa Tribune came by, took my picture. The 5 hour Energy girl came by to get her picture with me, and told me she had heard that I lost 80 pounds. I guess I under-estimated the impact that story has for people.  Partly because I'm not done. I want to lose another 20. But my comment to the thin people was “Better not to have gained it in the first place”. Heavy people deserve my encouragement, so I was telling them “it takes years, start now.” I hate the TV shows like “Biggest Loser” because they actually make it seem easier than it is. Keep in mind: Your body lies to you. How do you know how much to eat? Your body, your metabolism, is supposed to guide you. Heavy people can’t use that as a guide. 

I chatted with even more people than I had photos with. It was a blast. These events have an easy fellowship that develops, and I guess going in costume tells people you have every intention of being friendly. 

I spoke with the race director, the race website owner, a field hand from the ranch, a “Mountie” from Tampa’s mounted patrol and several of the vendors that were there feeding people. It was like I was the cute girl at the party. 

Here are the typical conversation starters: “Rough day at the office?” “Wow today’s commute was from hell!” “Dude did you run in that??” 

Here are some of today's pics:

My prize for "Best Dressed"!

 

  Everyone hung out under the trees after their run.