Tomorrow is the Rugged Maniac Race in Southwick, MA at the Motocross Track! Where is Southwick, MA you ask? Well since I originally thought it was where the Southwick Zoo is I assume many think that's the case but let me enlighten us both ... Southwick Zoo is actually located in Mendon, MA and Southwick, MA is actually located out in West Bum Massachusetts right about here ...
Naturally when I discovered it was basically in California way back when I signed up I called my good friends Tom and Krissy who live somewhere out there and told them had to join me since it was in their "neighborhood". So all total there will be about 12 or so people that I know attempting this insanity.
The race registration opens at 8am with the first wave starting at 8:45am. This first wave is a competitive wave and therefore I most certainly did not sign up for that one haha. We start at 10am with some of the crew following at 11:30am and others a bit later at 2pm in the afternoon.
The course is a standard 3.1 mile or 5K length but the slant on this one that the United States Marine Corps decided they wanted to share the agony they experience in training with us civilians so they paired with the Rugged Maniac staff to design this ...
Don't know what you're looking at, well allow me to explain. You are looking at 15 obstacles set essentially 0.2 miles apart along a motocross dirtbiking track which involves sand, mud, unreasonable amounts of hills and wooded terrain. The official course won't be announced until the day of but we have to look forward to a combination of the following obstacles laid out for us in some arrangement or another:
cargo net climb (looks easier than it is)
island bound over water trap (careful you might step on a falsey)
mud crawl under wire
thin plank balance over water/mud trap (more falsey action)
big tunnel run/duck
tire jungle (watch your face short people, aka me)
barricade wall climbs (hope some one's there to hoist me over)
little tunnel crawl
forest run (watch those ankles)
30 degree incline hill run
fire leap
So basically probably one of the most arduous things I have done in my lifetime to date. I am both totally amped up for it as well as scared out of my mind. I merely hope to be able to finish without running around any obstacles.
Figuring out what to wear has been my biggest challenge of the week. I need to be comfortable but also want something sturdy to stand up to all the water/mud/rain/dirt etc that the outfit will be exposed to.
After the race we can sit back, sip some brews and laugh at the people that have to go do what we just did ... I think I'm looking forward to that part!
Wish me luck, I have to don a bridesmaid dress just 7 days later and have been warned by Miss Ashley Baker that if I show up in a cast or with a black eye or any other such deformity my name will be MUD! Check back on Sunday so pre and post race photos as well as to hear how I did, which, let's be honest, is probably going to be a hilarious story, hopefully accompanied by some great photos!
Don't forget that Strike Out ALS Worcester is coming up on Sunday, October 16th at 5pm at Bocado Tapas & Wine Bar in the woo. Hope to see you there.
And if you can't make it but would still like to donate, please visit the link to the right to make a secure donation directly to the fund.
Thanks for reading!
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