Women Share an Unclean Bond
February 2014
By Jennifer M. Drummond
They sported sparkling tiaras, pink tutus, colorful t-shirts and running shoes! They were women who came to participate in the 5K Pretty Muddy Race held in October at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia.
As the name indicates, there was mud and lots of it. Women who dared ran a 3.1 mile military-inspired obstacle course. Be warned, muddy races are now considered an extreme sport.
I initially signed up for the race, not so much to participate but as motivation to train. I took advantage of a special rate offered by my gym to work with a trainer and others interested in the race. We formed a team. We worked a minimum of three days a week for five weeks to prepare for a race I initially had no desire to run in. The trainer recommended that we keep a food journal and work on the training exercises outside of our sessions. Throughout this process, something amazing happened. I changed from not wanting to run the race to being excited about the challenge. All the timed runs, squats, planks, and work-outs on the exercise equipment paid off. If that wasn’t enough, I also now had new friends from my training group!
On the day of the race, the air was crisp and the sky a perfect blue, complete with energizing music, laughter and a spirit of sisterhood. We were off and running - straight through a tunnel of soap bubbles to a waterslide where we hit the first pit of mud. We ran some more and before long were crawling through a large basin of mud. It was a lesson in humility. When I climbed the six-foot wall and went up and over a huge spider web made of rope, I discovered real fear! The closer I got to the finish line, the more everyone began to look alike – all mud and smiles!
Finally, the word FINISH appeared in bright yellow on a large purple archway and I was in shouting range. I could hear friends and family cheering. Slowly, I dragged myself through the last foot-deep vat of mud. I attempted to jump up in celebration, but the mud-embalmed shoes were too heavy. Instead, I lifted my arms in victory.
My first thought was, I made it. However, when I saw my teammates cross the finish line waving their arms enthusiastically, I realized the race was more about forming new friendships, becoming fit and having fun than it was about finishing. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Jennifer Drummond is a resident of Midlothian, Virginia and has a passion for wellness and fitness. She has been a runner for over 10 years. When she is not training for a race or attending one, you will find her working on her children's book she hopes to someday have published.
They sported sparkling tiaras, pink tutus, colorful t-shirts and running shoes! They were women who came to participate in the 5K Pretty Muddy Race held in October at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia.
As the name indicates, there was mud and lots of it. Women who dared ran a 3.1 mile military-inspired obstacle course. Be warned, muddy races are now considered an extreme sport.
I initially signed up for the race, not so much to participate but as motivation to train. I took advantage of a special rate offered by my gym to work with a trainer and others interested in the race. We formed a team. We worked a minimum of three days a week for five weeks to prepare for a race I initially had no desire to run in. The trainer recommended that we keep a food journal and work on the training exercises outside of our sessions. Throughout this process, something amazing happened. I changed from not wanting to run the race to being excited about the challenge. All the timed runs, squats, planks, and work-outs on the exercise equipment paid off. If that wasn’t enough, I also now had new friends from my training group!
On the day of the race, the air was crisp and the sky a perfect blue, complete with energizing music, laughter and a spirit of sisterhood. We were off and running - straight through a tunnel of soap bubbles to a waterslide where we hit the first pit of mud. We ran some more and before long were crawling through a large basin of mud. It was a lesson in humility. When I climbed the six-foot wall and went up and over a huge spider web made of rope, I discovered real fear! The closer I got to the finish line, the more everyone began to look alike – all mud and smiles!
Finally, the word FINISH appeared in bright yellow on a large purple archway and I was in shouting range. I could hear friends and family cheering. Slowly, I dragged myself through the last foot-deep vat of mud. I attempted to jump up in celebration, but the mud-embalmed shoes were too heavy. Instead, I lifted my arms in victory.
My first thought was, I made it. However, when I saw my teammates cross the finish line waving their arms enthusiastically, I realized the race was more about forming new friendships, becoming fit and having fun than it was about finishing. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Jennifer Drummond is a resident of Midlothian, Virginia and has a passion for wellness and fitness. She has been a runner for over 10 years. When she is not training for a race or attending one, you will find her working on her children's book she hopes to someday have published.
