Mud Run Monterey Bay 2010

I was so excited that Mike was able to join me in California for the 5th annual Big Sur Mud Run in Monterey Bay, California. It is a 5.1 mile obstacle course with mud pits, walls, and army personnel shouting orders at you. My Aunt Jodi, my Dad, and my brother-in-law Jeremy also ran. My cousin Kortney and Brandy were on the sidelines cheering us on.

My Dad surprised my Aunt Jodi with "Team Jodi" running shirts because she has been through so much in her life. Most recently she is a Breast Cancer Survivor. She is amazing!

How cute and clean are we before the race?



The race includes 1500 people. They start you in waves of 500 people each 10 minutes apart so the obstacles don't get too crowded. The last wave is made up of 5 person teams. You have to cross the finish line together if you are in a team. We were in the 2nd wave. I knew Mike could make a good showing at this race, but he couldn't decide whether or not he was going to run all out or stay back in the action with all of us.

Jeremy is showing some nice form at the beginning of the race.

We finally convinced Mike to go for it. You can see him on the sidewalk passing everyone. Jeremy sprinted up with him and acted like he was going to keep up with Mike, but that only lasted a few yards.

Here's Mike looking good with about a mile to go.

Mike is leaving the final mud pit looking a little winded. Right before this is a huge hill you have to climb. Right before that, the mean army people made you do 10 pushups.

Each of our times were adjusted since we started 10 minutes after the clock started. Mike's official time was 39:31.



Here's me trying to get through my last mile.

Heading towards the final mud pit.

Brandy didn't get me crossing the finish line because she was running back and forth between the last mile, the last mud pit, and the finish line. My official time was 53:58 which was over 5 minutes faster than last year. I was pretty proud of myself.

Jeremy's last mile.

Tom's last mile.

I am not sure if this is my Dad or Jeremy running up the final mud pit.

Jeremy and my Dad made a truce to cross the finish line together. Their official time was 56:47.

Jodi is still looking strong on her last mile.

Jodi has the pink bandanna and is crawling out of the final mud pit.

Jodi's official time was 1:09:10. She thought it would take her close to two hours.

We were so dirty. These pics don't do it justice.

Last year, we waited around and watched the awards ceremony. We checked the standings and Mike placed 4th in his age division and 7th in overall mens. I gave him so much crap because he totally could have placed if he hadn't messed around at the beginning. If he would have just gone all out from the start, he could have gotten a plaque.

Before the race, we spoke with a reporter about how we had traveled from Utah to run in this race. She said she would contact the Ogden Standard Examiner and let them know. We didn't think she would really follow through with it.

A few days after we got back, the following article appeared in the Sports Section of the Standard Examiner:

Big Sur Mud Run: 'Go on, take the mud.'

Big Sur, Calif - Mike Merrill of Syracuse competed in the annual Big Sur Mud Run last weekend in Northern California, finishing seventh among the top men with a 39:31 time on the 5-mile dirt and trail course. Merrill was competing with three other participants from Utah - Stacey Merrill, Jodi Cleveland and Tom Zampedri from Ogden.

Eighteen hundred muddy men and women crossed the finish line. Happy, tired and extremely dirty, the runners encountered four mud pits, numerous obstacles, exercise areas, military 'cheerleaders' and even a beer station along the course.

The fifth annual race, organized by the Big Sur International Marathon in conjunction with the Presidio of Monterey and Cal State University Monterey Bay, was held on the roads and trails in Seaside, Calif. Travis Armstrong, 33, of Marina, Calif., finished first overall with a time of 32 minutes, 31 seconds.

Today, Mike received two plaques in the mail.

Apparently, the results we looked at on race day hadn't divided the civilians from the military. Mike ended up placing 3rd in the Civilian 30 to 39 age group and 5th overall in the Civilian mens. I feel so bad we didn't hang around for the awards ceremony. Of course I had to give Mike crap again saying he could have done better if he hadn't messed around and if he had been in the first wave. Those who placed higher than him were in the first wave and didn't have to wait for anyone at the obstacles. I didn't let Mike know that I am actually really proud of him.

Quick Weekend to Cali

My mom was sooo nice and offered to watch our kids for the weekend while Mike and I went to California for the weekend. She really wanted Mike to be able to run in the Mud Run. My Dad even gave us one of his frequent flier airline tickets to help with the cost. We had a blast and owe it all to my parents. Love you guys!

We flew in Friday morning where my Dad picked us up at the airport. My Aunt Jodi and cousin Kortney were already in San Fransisco visiting my sister. We then drove down to Monterey where the Mud Run would be held the next day. We just wandered around the city not wanting to expend too much energy. My Aunt Jodi was really nervous about being able to run the required 5.1 miles.

Here are a few silly pics of my Dad.

Friday night, my Dad wanted to relax in the hot tub. He realized he didn't bring his swimsuit. My Aunt Jodi nicely let him borrow her shorts.


The rest of the pics are from Saturday after the Mud Run. I did a separate post for the Mud Run race.

What would a trip to California be like without eating some yummy Ghirardellis? I had to stuff my face after my Mud Run performance.

I had to listen to my Dad for an entire year about how I wouldn't get out of the car after last year's Mud Run to see the many wonderful golf courses located in the area. This year, I made sure I got myself out to see them all even though I was exhausted. I think Mike really enjoyed seeing all of the courses.

Some famous Cyprus tree they always show on television during Pebble Beach Golf Tournaments.

My dad, cousin Kortney, Aunt Jodi, Mike and I.

This is the famous Pebble Beach Clubhouse. My dad is freaking hilarious. This year the US Open is being held here at Pebble Beach. My parents actually have tickets. My dad went to the front registration desk and asked if they had any hotel availability for the dates of June 19 through June 21st which happen to be the US Open dates. It took the registrar a minute while he was looking at the schedule to realize my dad was joking. The rooms here at the Clubhouse are booked a year in advance when the US Open is scheduled to be here. It was was so funny.

The 18th Hole at Pebble Beach.

Yes, that is my Dad still at the 18th Hole. He spent forever there imagining what it is going to be like this June. He is so excited to go to the US Open.

The practice putting green.

I actually ran out onto the 18th Hole and took a picture of my feet. J/k. This is the practice putting green. I probably would have been arrested if I would have done that.

In celebration of our great showing at the Mud Run we went and ate at Chili's. Of course we had to tell the waitress it was my Dad's birthday so they brought him dessert and balloons. My Dad was a little tipsy by this time and the rest of the night was hilarious.

My Dad tied the balloons to his waist. He then went to the bathroom. The table next to us was cracking up because they were like, "He doesn't even remember the balloons are tied on him!" I don't think he did. My Dad came back and we got into a conversation with the table that was making fun of him. The lady asked my Dad how old he was. He replied, "58." She said, "Oh, I will be 58 this August." He said, "Oh, you beat me by a few months. My birthday is in October." They looked so confused. His birthday was supposed to be today. We quickly got our check and left.

Still feeling the affects of alcohol.

We left early Sunday to go home. It was a fun trip and I am so grateful to my parents for making it possible!

Tanner's Crazy Obssesions

Tanner is obssessed with a few things right now. First, he has to carry sprinklers with him where ever he goes. He likes the big sprinkler and the sprinkler insert.

He also likes to carry around the Nintendo DS games and look at the instruction manuels inside. Tanner is forever making us laugh!

Gage Plays Jr Jazz Basketball

The past few months Gage has played Jr. Jazz Basketball. I really want my kids to try a lot of different sports and activities so they can figure out what they enjoy to do. Well, this past year I have found that Gage doesn't enjoy basketball. He did a lot of running and put his hands up in the air, but he just wasn't into it. Gage dreaded going to the games. This is his second year playing and I told him it could be his last.

Here are some pics of Gage being number 5.

It's hard to tell, but this is one of the few times Gage had the ball.

Mike was the assistant coach.

Tanner was very hard to take to the games. Here's my mom trying to entertain him on the walk way above the courts.

Landen loved going to Gage's games because he knew he could play his DS.