Ever since I've become a Mudd Queen, in 2015 alone I've driven west on the 417 more times than I have in my entire life up until last year!
Perth Kilt Run was a charming, lovely event (bonus - the kilt!) that I may consider next year. The Warrior Division sounds rather enticing. Now who would kindly show me how to properly hammer throw and caber toss without causing bodily harm to myself, or the volunteers?
Most people who ask me about my event calendar know that of all the Spartan Sprints, Ottawa has been my favorite, still is. I wasn't really planning on running both days, but with a season pass and most of the girls running both days or some only on Sunday, why not? It's a good test (of what, I'm not sure...my insanity?)
Friday had some of the Ottawa Senators' prospects run the race as part of a relay with open participants. Not going to lie, I felt a surge of pride as the Mudd Queens swept the podium on the womens' side. Unfortunately, Jen's relay partner injured his ankle on course and DNF'd. The other funny tidbit the girls told me was the Sens players limping to the podium. Guess it's not every day they get to run an obstacle course race!
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| 1) Sara 2) Crystal 3) Patrice Way to go, ladies! |
I heard the race was a bit shorter than the other Sprints so far (since when is 8+ km considered a Sprint?? Only here haha) so this could be a bit more enjoyable.
Saturday morning starts off cool but once the sun is out it's great. Finally get to pick up my season pass chip and bag drop bag. Another familiar sight is the emcee - tall guy wearing full Spartan costume (I heard he's a runner), been seeing him at Spartan Races since 2012.
Wall jump to start line, then soon enough off we go, and the familiar hill climb to kick off any Spartan Race. It isn't long before we get to some hay bales and a large log (that could pass for a balance beam) to jump over, and some OUT walls.
Soon the monkey bars appear and there's already a lineup. I haven't had a big problem in monkey bar crossings this season, but somehow, using the swing approach, I feel myself stop and don't get far at all. After 30 burpees I look at the set up and they appear to be angled slightly...uphill?
Some nice trails and not long after the spear throw comes up. I'd been practicing my release (it's hard to throw that in a straight line!) and I somehow end up sticking the spear partially standing up with the point in the bale. Hey it counts, right?
Other fun oldies but goodies included Atlas carry, parallel bar traverse (right after a muddy crawl!), incline wall (again, hands full of mud), tire flip - I think I picked one on the men's side but it was fun to flip nonetheless. The pancake carry went through some awesome trails that I'd love to run all day. The slackline has become my new nemesis, barely took 4 steps and had to step off (didn't help they were set up on a downhill!) Linda has completed the traverse, but the bell is strung so high she can't reach it!
Downhill towards the rope climb followed by the Platinum Rig (ooo! Sneaky!), I almost make it through but do not have enough momentum to reach one of the rings that are higher up. There is also a volunteer who is doubling as burpee police - going up to every racer and asking, "Where you at?" <answer a number between 1-30> "Keep going!" Tough love, held everyone accountable, no malicious intent. Hey, can we clone this guy and put him at all the obstacles that have high burpee yields?
I almost fell off the zigzag wall but held on and massively cramped my left calf, enough to have me running funny on the last section towards the jerry can carry (also suspect lack of adequate hydration). Genevieve and Andrea are finishing up; Gen has a few words of advice: "Take your time. It's at least 50 pounds..." Oh, lordy. Shades of Killington Beast difficulty with this carry, as the loop seems to go on forever.
The only thing that I missed on this course was the spraying of the mist (aka snow making) which would have been refreshing, but that's a small detail. We'll see if tomorrow I'll succeed where I'd failed.
Sunday Sprint
Seize the day!...just let me have some coffee first.
I'm not really sure if today I'll run for fun, or try to beat my time versus yesterday. Thinking about yesterday's cramping episode, I chomp 2 eLoad eDISCS before the start. I get maybe 3/4 of the way across the monkey bars but fall off again. I whiff my spear throw as well, it went straight (at least) but shot through the bottom of the supporting frame.
On the downhill towards the finish, we notice the slacklines have been removed. I later found out there were too many ankle injuries at that obstacle..I somehow find myself counting how many pulls it takes me to climb the rope (7) thanks to a little chat with Sara, our climbing expert. The Platinum Rig has been changed and I lose momentum and have to burpee out. (I'd been told by an observer that I dead hang too much and don't swing enough.)
Zigzag wall - fell off at the same spot that made me cramp, ugh. The jerry can carry has been shortened by perhaps half the distance, but that thing is still bleeping heavy.
Cool item added this year in the festival area - Protinis snacks! Good way to try these much ballyhooed chicken snacks that feature Hayley Wickenheiser on the TV commercials. They're tasty!
I also pick up a Wreck Bag, but the one I'd paid for is on the Platinum Rig truck which is nowhere to be found on Sunday. Claude Godbout helps out and eventually I get one from the display pile (with one corner of the box mysteriously covered in what appears to be blueberry yogurt). Oh right, I have to get this back to my car...!
As I'm weaving my way out of the site with the box perched on my shoulder I realize I'm carrying the cardboard, rectangular equivalent of a BATTERING RAM. The box measures about 3 1/2 feet long and feels awkwardly heavy as I trod on. Claude had asked if I was ok carrying it, but now I'm wondering if everyone around me will be fine as I try not to kamikaze them with my new toy.
Some nice trails and not long after the spear throw comes up. I'd been practicing my release (it's hard to throw that in a straight line!) and I somehow end up sticking the spear partially standing up with the point in the bale. Hey it counts, right?
Other fun oldies but goodies included Atlas carry, parallel bar traverse (right after a muddy crawl!), incline wall (again, hands full of mud), tire flip - I think I picked one on the men's side but it was fun to flip nonetheless. The pancake carry went through some awesome trails that I'd love to run all day. The slackline has become my new nemesis, barely took 4 steps and had to step off (didn't help they were set up on a downhill!) Linda has completed the traverse, but the bell is strung so high she can't reach it!
Downhill towards the rope climb followed by the Platinum Rig (ooo! Sneaky!), I almost make it through but do not have enough momentum to reach one of the rings that are higher up. There is also a volunteer who is doubling as burpee police - going up to every racer and asking, "Where you at?" <answer a number between 1-30> "Keep going!" Tough love, held everyone accountable, no malicious intent. Hey, can we clone this guy and put him at all the obstacles that have high burpee yields?
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| No I'm not cheating, my left hand was stopping me from initially bashing into the beam |
I almost fell off the zigzag wall but held on and massively cramped my left calf, enough to have me running funny on the last section towards the jerry can carry (also suspect lack of adequate hydration). Genevieve and Andrea are finishing up; Gen has a few words of advice: "Take your time. It's at least 50 pounds..." Oh, lordy. Shades of Killington Beast difficulty with this carry, as the loop seems to go on forever.
The only thing that I missed on this course was the spraying of the mist (aka snow making) which would have been refreshing, but that's a small detail. We'll see if tomorrow I'll succeed where I'd failed.
Sunday Sprint
Seize the day!...just let me have some coffee first.
I'm not really sure if today I'll run for fun, or try to beat my time versus yesterday. Thinking about yesterday's cramping episode, I chomp 2 eLoad eDISCS before the start. I get maybe 3/4 of the way across the monkey bars but fall off again. I whiff my spear throw as well, it went straight (at least) but shot through the bottom of the supporting frame.
On the downhill towards the finish, we notice the slacklines have been removed. I later found out there were too many ankle injuries at that obstacle..I somehow find myself counting how many pulls it takes me to climb the rope (7) thanks to a little chat with Sara, our climbing expert. The Platinum Rig has been changed and I lose momentum and have to burpee out. (I'd been told by an observer that I dead hang too much and don't swing enough.)
Zigzag wall - fell off at the same spot that made me cramp, ugh. The jerry can carry has been shortened by perhaps half the distance, but that thing is still bleeping heavy.
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| Barbed wire fun |
Cool item added this year in the festival area - Protinis snacks! Good way to try these much ballyhooed chicken snacks that feature Hayley Wickenheiser on the TV commercials. They're tasty!
I also pick up a Wreck Bag, but the one I'd paid for is on the Platinum Rig truck which is nowhere to be found on Sunday. Claude Godbout helps out and eventually I get one from the display pile (with one corner of the box mysteriously covered in what appears to be blueberry yogurt). Oh right, I have to get this back to my car...!
As I'm weaving my way out of the site with the box perched on my shoulder I realize I'm carrying the cardboard, rectangular equivalent of a BATTERING RAM. The box measures about 3 1/2 feet long and feels awkwardly heavy as I trod on. Claude had asked if I was ok carrying it, but now I'm wondering if everyone around me will be fine as I try not to kamikaze them with my new toy.
Reflecting on this race weekend, I realize that there are still some things I need to work on and master in order to improve my times. I won't chalk up any excuses on my obstacle failures, as each one was doable. That, and I probably could have run a bit faster on some stretches.
Next up BattleFrog Extreme New England!
Next up BattleFrog Extreme New England!
