The car was full of banter as we headed up a the road towards North Oxford. It was the type of idle chatter that only originates from nerves.
There were three of us in the car, all of us lingering around the forty age mark, some of us closer than others.
We were all about to lose our virginity together.
Collectively, with not a huge amount of training between us, we were going to do our first mud run.
…And we were a little bit terrified.
At the race, my brother and his wife were waiting for us. Together we checked it, secured numbers to our chests and posed for the obligatory before picture.
A quick safety briefing warned us we would be leaping in muddy waters up to our chins and the pre race warm up caused us all to sweat in the midday sun.
What muppet signs up to a 5k obstacle race, through mud at midday…
Suddenly we were starting, and for a mile we simply ran. Over tarmac, into fields and eventually into the woods.
I am not going to lie to you, when we crashed into the woods, and slid into knee deep squelching mud, I squealed with disgust and shouted in horror.
Then suddenly surprise rushed over me, once I stopped screeching like a women in labour.
I quite liked the feeling of mud clambering up my legs.
It was liberating, in a curious kind of way.
The next challenge was a pool filled with brown water. My inner child took over and I ditched my dignity by the trees and leapt in. Cold flooded over me, and I swear something swam by leg. I swam, climbed and waded through before yanking myself out on a tyre ladder.
The four of us (my brother sprinted off ahead) took a journey on that 5k run. We literally wallowed in mud, climbed over hurdles that terrified our older bones, and swung from tires till our arms ached. We found bits of ourselves amonst mud and shite and emerged beaming, and brown!
We laughed till tears cascaded down our mud streaked cheeks, and we hugged when we climbed obstacles that we thought we couldn’t manage. We bled, bruised and sniggered around a course designed to make us stronger.
It was more fun that I have had in a long time.
If you have never tried a Saturday afternoon racing through mud, then I can highly recommend it!
The next Vision Wild Run is on October 4th, who is up for it?
The obligatory finale shot!
With thanks to my three super friends for being mad enough to join me…..
Love the pictures, who took them and escaped the mud?!
I want to come! Although 4th October may be a bit near to the whole birth thing – not sure I’d like a water birth in that water. Sign me up for one next year with you, looks amazing! x
Awesome, just bloody awesome!
I absolutely love these photos. You look amazing and like you’re having the best of times and that while you’re running – *insert shocked face*
Look at you go. I don’t know if you do the whole blog awards thing, but regardless I have nominated you for a Liebster award. It just my way of saying your blog, and you are amazing!!
Wow love these pictures you look so happy and you look amazing too!