Today I ran the Warrior Dash, I think this is the first one in Washington. There is another one called the Mud Slug or something like that.
It was fun, it is interesting because it was not about time, I found myself waiting in line for others to get past the obstacles, so it was really not right to look at time.
It was about getting through obstacles. BTW, the web site is wrong with what obstacles you encounter.
Warrior Dash Starting Point
The run started OK but after about a quarter mile, it became clear my right calf muscle did not full heal. That was bad news and it only got worse.
The first obstacle was actually the Barricade Breakdown where you go over a short wall and under some barbed wire. This one wasn’t too bad, seemed like the walls got a little higher each time. I think there were four walls altogether. This was the second easiest for me.
The next was the great warrior wall, and it got me really worried, I do have a little fear of heights but what made me nervous was the drop, the pain would have turned to injury. I did it though, upper body actually helped, thank goodness I still workout doing pushups, situps, curls, and bench presses.
Next was the teetering traverse, this is where I really got hurt. For someone my size, I am surprised I had good balance. I got up and across this balance beam style of bridge. Unfortunately I had to go down, going slow would of had me slip. I went fast, and landed hard on my right leg, really putting a lot of pressure on my already strained calf muscle.
Within about 200 yards of that was the chaotic crossover. Most people went on fours and crossed that way. I rolled like a roll of pennies across the net. It was such an effective move that I caught up to the lady in front of me and ran over her legs.
Then there was a pretty nice long run to some cars lined up in the road rage. The first set was easy, I just jumped on the hood on my butt like it was a highchair and swung my legs over. The next set of cars was a little tougher, you had to go over the roof, and I think all of them had sun roofs.
The next was the rubber ricochet, my strategy was to simply follow the person in front of my as they pushed tires suspended from rope out of the way. Unfortunately some inconsiderate neanderthal, blasted by and whacked me with his tires as he passed me. What a tool. (I decided to not use profanity here, but the profanity was more appropriate.) At least I apologized to the lady I ran over, this punk just kept going.
Next was the blackout, the easiest obstacle. It was simply a blacked out tent you crawled under and popped out the other end. I guess if you had a fear of the dark it would be bad, not for me. It was dark because you are going from the bright outside into a dark tent.
The deadman’s drop scared me because of my leg. Under normal conditions I would’ve flown over it. Basically its a wall with steps you climb up and a steep wall you slide down.
Then there was the cargo climb, by now my leg was screaming. But I took it easy, even with a bum calf, I went up and down it with little issue. Even screamed when I was at the top.
The warrior roast would have been the 2nd easiest obstacle for me, but it required me to jump and of course my calf made this a difficult thing to do.
The muddy mayhem was the last thing. This is where, if you weren’t muddy now, you will be. It’s not a tough obstacle, just a messy one, where you crawl the first part of it. I felt some rocks in there and I knew it was going to chew up my knees. Not sure if it was on purpose, but having rocks scratch up your knees while soaked in mud may not be a good thing.
Also, the announcers on the speaker egg you on to run on the second part of it, but there are 2 hidden mud pools where if you do run, you will fall. I missed the first mud pool but hit the second and fell.
The last 20 or so yards were muddy and slippery, your tired and can barely walk, it is tough at the end. It’s weird because I was in shape but not 100%, I would have flown through this.
Almost fell again.
Warrior Finish - Triumph
Throughout the course there were sections of heavy mud, not because of rain but because of purposely made to slow you down. My time is not official but my watch said 1 hour 9 minutes 47 seconds. I should have finished that course in 50 minutes if I was 100%.
Which means I have to do it again next year.
Their website
http://warriordash.com/register2011_washington.php
Had the obstacles as Road Rage, Barricade Breakdown, Great Warrior Wall, Cargo Climb, Rubber Ricochet, Teetering Traverse, Chaotic Crossover, Blackout, Deadmans Drop, Warrior Roast and Finally Muddy Mayhem.
It was a good run, but I know it was a bit of stupidity and stubbornness to try due to my healing leg.
At least a got a full two weeks to let me leg heal for Seafair Torchlight.