Mud Run Fun

A few months ago, Brandy mentioned some Mud Run in Monterey Bay, California which is roughly 2 hours south of where she lives. She thought it would be great for the family to come out for a visit and participate in this run. I had recently gotten my knee scoped at the time, but I felt I could maybe still do it. As the weeks drew closer, I started to think that maybe I shouldn't risk further damaging my knee. And then of course the frostbite hit and I thought it was the end. Well against all advice from Mike and with my doc and physical therapist not knowing, I did it anyway.

Mike went on an all guys ski trip back in February, so to make the trip a little more affordable I decided I would be the only one traveling to California. I have to say how much easier it is traveling alone! I was really excited to be able to hang out with Brandy and play with my nieces without having to worry about my kids.

My mom and I flew in on a Wednesday night and Jeremy picked us up at the airport. My dad was already there since he drove from Utah earlier that day. Delta charges for the first checked bag now, so I was able to let my dad take my luggage. Brandy, my mom, and I hit the outlets that night and then I headed off to stay at Brandy's apartment while my parents took Ava for a sleepover at their hotel. I started to get ready for bed when I realized my toiletry bag was missing from my suitcase. I had packed my bag a week earlier for my dad to take and I was sure I had put it in there. I started doubting myself thinking maybe I had left it back home. I was so irritated because I would now have to buy a toothbrush etc the next day. I called my dad to see if he knew anything about it and he denied any wrong doing. Brandy came in with a smile. They had hid my bag! Then, I got into Ava's bed and instantly started laughing. My dad had short sheeted the bed! We used to always do this back in the day on our soccer trips. Seriously how old is my dad?

The next day, we woke up bright and early (just kidding I was on vacation without kids and without my dad staying with me!). Anyway, Brandy, my dad and I went to San Fransisco to rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone in my family had already done this on previous trips and it was finally my turn.

Growing up my dad would always put himself between us and say he was the rose between two thorns. For our first pic I suggested this and he busted up laughing.

I'm not sure how far we biked, but you can tell how far away the bridge is and this wasn't even the starting point!

I had to get a picture of my dad walking his bike up the hill. Notice who was in front of them taking the picture. Brandy and my dad thought they were biking with Lance himself! J/k. Seriously though my dad did awesome. He recently had shoulder surgery and probably wasn't even supposed to be doing this.

We are getting closer!

Here's Brandy and I at about the halfway point on the bridge. It was beautiful. Kinda scary though. I guess people commit suicide about once a month by jumping. They had crisis phones hanging all along the way.

We rode our bikes into a town called Sausalito and had an ocean side lunch.

We took the ferry back into San Fransisco and road our bikes to AT&T Park where the Giants play baseball. I think just about every trip my dad goes on he has to take a picture of him by some sort of stadium or arena. It was neat to ride around the back and see where people paddle canoes trying to catch a home run ball that makes it out of the ball park.

After all of that biking we had to treat ourselves to the one and only Ghirardelli's. I picked up the tab and 3 ice creams ended up costing $28 and took a mere 3 minutes to eat. Yummy!

On Friday, my dad and I picked up Cami and Todd at the airport. We drove to Monterey Bay and explored the town. We ate at Bubba Gump's Restaurant. We aren't much of a fish family so this wasn't my favorite place to eat.

Saturday was race day. This is how the website described the race: The Mud Run is an approximate five mile loop course beginning and ending at Freeman Stadium on the CSUMB campus. The course is partially on the road and partially on trails and includes hills, water, obstacles, five foot walls and four mud pits. You will get wet and you will get muddy.

The website left out some important details. First of all, maybe a mile was on the road and it was all UPHILL! Secondly, the trails were mostly UPHILL and in SAND!

Brandy, Cami, Todd, and I started out together but Brandy and Todd quickly left Cami and I in the dust. Cami started getting a side ache and I couldn't stop once my knee was warmed up so off I went. The first mile was uphill on a road and then we turned onto the trails where we met our first mud pit. It consisted of roughly 5 barricades in muddy water we had to jump over. Brandy and I thought the weather was going to be cold so we wore tight capris. Dumb idea! They were soaking wet and heavy the remainder of the race. I had to keep pulling them up. A little ways into the trail I caught up with Brandy and Todd. Todd had said he only trained up to 1/2 a mile but I thought he had been kidding the way he took off with Brandy in the beginning. Well, he wasn't kidding. He was huffing and puffing so bad trying to stick it out. Brandy went on ahead, I followed a little behind and Todd dropped off. We continued on the trails and forging through sand up and down hills. I caught up with Brandy again and we stayed together the remainder of the race. We came upon mud pit #2 where army men were kicking water at us and we had to climb over a 5 ft wall. Anyone that has played soccer with me knows I have no arm strength whatsoever. I never threw the ball in for this reason. Brandy jumped up and made it over the wall. I kept jumping but I wasn't able to pull myself up at all. I kinda started getting a panic attack. The mean army men kept splashing me and I didn't know what they would do if they saw me run around the wall. I screamed for Brandy who came back around and pushed me over.

We continued running until Todd zoomed past us. We picked up our pace to match his but he was dying. He said he needed to walk a minute so we did. We started up again and came to our 3rd mud pit. We had to run over a balance beam, climb over another 5 ft wall (which I made this time because there was a plank missing I used for a step), swim through muddy water, climb up a mud hill, and then the mean army people demanded 10 push ups out of you. I went first and later I found out that Brandy followed closely behind only to have Todd shove her off the beam into the water. Glad we waited for him.

Another mile or so, we made it to our final mud pit. Army people were shouting orders and we had to duck under a mesh netting in water and climb up a mud hill. We ran into the stadium and made it to the finish line. Funnest run I have ever done! We are already making plans to do it again next year!

Before the race.

Off we go! I think I can! I think I can!

Here's the final mud pit. You can see Brandy and I at the top in black.

In we go!

This is Brandy and Todd. I had already made it out of the pit.

We made it in 1:00:17. Give me my medal!

Todd made it in a close 1:00:37

Cami eventually made it. I am so proud of her. She didn't even train and she did it. I don't think I could have done that.

One last look at the final mud pit.

After the big race, there was no time for rest. My dad took us to see the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course. Mike and my dad aren't ever going to let me live this down, but I was really hurting (not my knee) so I didn't get out of the car to see the famous course. I might have overdone it a little.

My dad said this was some famous tree they always use as a symbol for the golf tournaments.

On Sunday, we drove to Santa Cruz where they have a boardwalk on the beach. Only, they replaced the boardwalk with concrete about a year ago. Still it was really neat to see an amusement park right on the beach.

Sunday night, Cami, Todd, my mom and I flew home. Of course our plane was delayed 3 hours due to bad weather in Vegas.

I had so much fun. Thanks Brandy and Jeremy for letting us come and visit. It was great going on my own, but I sure did miss my boys. Thanks Mike for taking care of things while I was gone!