Rugged Maniac...

Well – my last and final OCR of 2014 was last Saturday and what a way to go out!

We had a fun group this time around and a virgin!  The usual suspects – Fatima and David, then my sister in law and our friend Shawn.  Taylor jumped on board again and our virgin was my best friend – Libby who as I suspected kicked major ass. 

The other great thing – is this will be the best detailed accurate blog due to Rugged Maniac’s awesome website, race packet, etc.  All the info is there! 

We all met at my pad and headed out in 2 cars.  This was by far my favorite race of the year.  I remember I loved it last year too, but it was even better this year!  Since Lib was breaking her cherry and Taylor was worried about keeping up and Fatima wanted to take it easy since she was going to be doing another race the next day, we opted for a “Party Race.”  We sort of did the Irvine Mud Run this same way.  Take our time, fuck around and take pictures!  I brought my great little digital camera that Fatima gave me that’s supposed to be water proof.  What better way to test it out right?!

Here’s the pre-race shot of our group:

Danelle and Shawn opted to run on ahead so we didn’t see them until the end.  So, our party group was the fab five!  Here we go!

Can’t wait to pop my best friends cherry!!!

We begin!

First up – “Quad Burner”.  Killed it.

I think this might be my favorite picture:

Next up – “Barricades”. Little walls.

Brilliant Libby Photo Bomb

My new profile picture

Next – “Jacobs Ladder”.  Now I don’t have pics of all the obstacles unfortunately because my battery started dying so we started to pick and choose.  This was a big climb thing.  Libby has a fear of heights but she still tackled and conquered these obstacles with the encouragement of us and other racers!

Next – “Trenches”.  These were the same things I remember from last year – scary!  You basically have to run and jump over multiple trenches.  There are a couple that are pretty wide across.  I almost biffed it on one last year, but I did pretty damn good this year!  Hopped over all of them with no problem. 

Next – “Tipping Point”. These were fun.  It was like teeter-totters!  I was surprised at how many people were actually having trouble with these.  Once you got the hang of it, it was all about the quad muscles.  You just basically – teeter in the middle!  Super fun!

"Wait What?"

"Oh got it!"

Another favorite picture!

Next – “Commando Crawl”.  Basically crawling through a tube and mud.  Good times!

Next – “Beam me up!” Another large cargo climb thing. 

Next – “Claustrophobia”.  This is a tunnel you have to squat/crawl through.  It’s a bit long and turns a couple times which makes it fell claustrophobic.  I wasn’t sure Lib would due it since the girl is claustrophobic but she said she’d do it as long as I stayed near her.  She of course – killed it.

Next – “Ninja Escape”.  We should have taken some photos here.  Would have been rad.  It’s just like American Ninja Warrior.  Boards you’re supposed to ninja jump across.  Now – I always thought I would ace this – and I did the 1^st couple, but the last part was farther apart and my little short ass did not quite make it.  Super fun though!

Next – “Leap of Faith”.  You basically jump into water and hope it’s not too deep or cold!  That’s one thing I’d like to point out here – It was so cold last year.   This year was off and on cold, but nothing was too cold at all.  Only got a little chilly a few times in the water but otherwise perfect racing weather!

Next – “The Gauntlet”.  This was fun.  Lesson learned though – go one a time and you’ll make it.  What happened to Taylor, Lib and I was a brilliant comic routine.  We went in that order – well Taylor swung back on of his red things that smacked into Lib who fell back and smacked one into me and Lib and I went tumbling into the water.  It was hilarious.  Between the shot the Rugged guy got and what Fatima was snapping away – hilarity ensued.  A favorite moment for sure!

Here we go!

Dominos!!

Hilarious!

Taylor thought so too!

Next – “Head Scratcher”.  Crawling through mud under barbed wire.

Next – “Napoleon Complex”.  This was a toughie.  It was climbing over a couple of walls, but they were tall walls and the board you grab on to, to hoist yourself up had no lip.  No one could get a grip and honestly I don’t think most people can get over without help.  Taylor stepped up and basically let me use him as a tree to climb over.  He and David then helped Libby over.  The next wall David hoisted me over and tried not to step too hard on his shoulder with my cleated shoes.  Thanks boys!!!

Next – “Pack Mule”.  You’re handed a 25lb or 50lb bag you hoisted over your shoulders and have to carry around in a U shape through ankle deep water.  It was fun, but as I type this I realize I never saw the pictures.  Damn!  I actually posed for the photographer here but now I’m realizing they must not have come out.  Bummer.

Next – “Waterworks”.  Up and over or under tubes in muddy water.

Next – “Balance or Bust”.  Balance Beam.  I recall us all getting across. 

Next – “Lets Cargo”.  Another large cargo climb.  

So proud of her!!!!

Next – “The Ringer”.  Rings!  Now I thought I’d do better on these than I did.  They were soooooooooooooo slippery!!  I made it a few but went down pretty quick.  Just too damn slippery.  I think David made it across though.  He said his row wasn’t as slippery.  You see him killin it below.

Got Shawn's professional shot!

Killed it

Not me!  Damn!

Next – “Speed Trap” – running through muddy waters.

Next – “Frog Hop”.  Now – this was my moment of glory!  You can see me debating how to do it in the pic below.  Only Taylor, David and I did it.  Almost everyone was falling off.  I watched for a few minutes and realized you had to just run really fast across them.  People were making the mistake of stopping/hesitating or trying to go slow.  No good.  I of course also got a little shot of adrenaline because we were now near the finish and there were a lot of spectators watching this one.  I of course wanted to nail it.  So – I just went.  I shot across super fast, landed on the other side and heard the crowd cheer and applaud.  Such a great rush.  Sadly no photo though.  I was on the other side of the main photographer and Fatima teased me saying I went too quick for her to catch a shot.  Oh well.  You see David killing it below.  He also got lots of cheers.  That’s right folks – not many were making it!  Taylor made a great effort and you see he has no regrets – that’s a smile of a winner!

Killin it!

I swear this is what I looked like too!

Valiant effort by Taylor but as you see above - all laughs!

Love this shot!

Go D!

Go Shawn!

Next – “Antigravity” another favorite.  There were tramploines that you jumped down on then it sprung you to a wall with cargo rope.  You looked like bugs or something splatting up against the wall.  It was hilarious and super fun!  Loved this one!

Before I move along I must share the raddest picture of D.  BAM!

Next’ – “Slippery Slope”.  Now.  Here was my one major injury.  Luckily it was near the end.  So basically – there’s a wall set up sort of like a skateboard ramp.  You just run like hell towards it and up.  If you’re a fucking ninja you can maybe get to the top with no help.  If you’re like 95% of the rest of population you hope to get high enough that the group of people at the top grab your hands/arms as you leap up.  Only David and I attempted it.  As we got up there Danelle had already finished and called us over to advise to make sure you run and keep your hands up in the air.  Cool.  Away I went.  Up I leaped.  The two guys grabbed my hands.  In a matter of probably 3 seconds.  Left side dude lost grip.  I slammed into the wall – wind knocked out of me.  Right side dude lost grip.  Down I went.  I crumbled down at the bottom and it hurt to breathe.  

 

Ouch

I staggered off to the stairs (where you go if you didn’t want to attempt the wall) and hobbled up.  David tried a few times and eventually got it.  I unfortunately could not cheer him on as I was trying to finish the last 2 parts of the race before my injury got worse since I wasn’t quite sure what I did.  When I got to the top I paused briefly to get my wind back.  Taylor, Lib and I climbed the final cargo climb and then there’s a huge slide that’s the end of the race.  We went down together and the pictures are kind of sad because that’s not joy in my face, that’s pain!  Ouch!  

Whoohoo!

I thought I was just happy!

But no...I was hurting

So sad.

Love this picture too! Ha ha!

We waited for Fatima/David and I tried to asses my damage I was worried I broke a rib, but it looks like I had just bruised it.  Thank GAWD. 

We finished together.

This race was set up nicely that there always seemed to be a water obstacle after a mud one so we weren’t too bad at the end.  I opted not to rinse off since it was getting chilly.  We all found a table in the beer garden, ate burgers and fries and funnel cake and chatted with this hilarious woman who was getting drunk and headed out. 

Stopped for the last group shot:

So proud of this one!

Rugged Maniac 2014 Finishers

And home we went.

Rugged Maniac is my favorite of the year by far.  I would love to try it full bore and see how fast I do it.  I think I could do pretty well!  I plan on picking a race next year and pushing it full just to see how fast I can go.  I love our party races and the Weeples are fun but once I do want to test myself.  We’ll see.  I plan on doing Rugged again next year for sure!  Such a great group this race.  We had an absolute blast together!  Taylor did so well!  Libby rocked her 1^st OCR and Fatima and David as always did fantastic!  Good bye to another year of OCR fun!!!

Aroooo!!!!